A mid-season turnaround has the Quesnel River Rush sitting on top of the Cariboo Cup standings.
The Rush’s five-to-two win on Wednesday, December 18, over the 100 Mile House Wranglers ties the Cariboo teams’ rivalry in overall points in the regional Cariboo Cup, but Quesnel has won three of the four head-to-head games.
“It adds a little extra juice to the rivalries,” says GM and interim Head Coach of the Rush, Logan Maxwell. “You can tell between the games, they’re a little chippier, but it’s good. It gets talked about now when we play those two teams.”
The Rush’s win on Wednesday also moves them over the .500 mark for the first time this season with 12 wins, 11 losses, and 2 extra time losses. Winning five out of their last eight games.
“Everyone’s buying in and believing what we can do out there, and believing in themselves and their skills,” Maxwell comments. “What we can improve on is playing a full 60 minutes. But I like out compete, and I like our pace.”
Playing a full 60 is key for the Rush. In the last eight games, 12 goals have been scored against Quesnel in the Third Period alone, turning some games that could have been won into losses, and allowing teams to claw back and send the game into extra time.
Clamping down on the Third Period slowdown will bolster the team to challenge even the best in the KIJHL.
Tonight, December 20, the Rush has a chance to be in the driver’s seat of the Cariboo Cup with a win over the Williams Lake Mustangs.
A win would have the Rush take the lead in the Cariboo Rivalry in overall points, total wins, and head-to-heads against both Cariboo Teams.
The Rush face off against the Mustangs tonight at 7 pm at the Cariboo Memorial Rec Complex. Kicking off a tough road trip at the start of the New Year.
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