Quesnel Kangaroos and Rodeo extend their lucrative partnership

The Quesnel Kangaroos are going to be your hosts of the annual Barn Dance each summer for a while longer.

The dust has settled on the Quesnel Rodeo that took place during the Billy Barker Days festival in July, during which the boys of the Quesnel Kangaroos produced the annual Barn Dance for the third year in a row.

Now, in September, when accepting their portion of the final tallies from Ray Jasper, President of the Quesnel Rodeo Club, the Roos and Rodeo announced they will be extending their partnership for another three years.

“This one is big, probably one of the biggest fundraisers we have done in Quesnel,” says Kangaroos Captain Alessio Tomassetti. “It goes a long way for our fundraising; our hockey team runs off quite a bit of money. But it’s been awesome for the community. We love to put on, and we always try to put on community events for Quesnel for our fundraisers.”

During the Barn Dance, Roos players, their families, and volunteers help out in all sorts of ways during the event. Tomassetti says one of the most important goals for the team is to keep as much fundraising locally sourced.

“We’re all local hockey players from Quesnel, and it’s a history with the team that has been going on for so long in the community. That’s what makes a great partnership, too, working together as a team to bring the community together.

Last season, the Kangaroos made it all the way to the finals in the Central Interior Hockey League, where they fell in two games to the Terrace River Kings. Tomassetti is confident that the team, despite the tough competition, can make it back to the finals.

“We are looking strong this year. A lot of local guys in the lineup, a lot of young guys mixed in with the veterans. We have players who played in the WHL and BCHL, and made it all the way up. We’re really excited to get the season going and playing in front of our fans.”

The Quesnel Kangaroos’ season opener is on Saturday, September 20, in Quesnel at the West Fraser Centre. The Roos will be facing Cariboo rivals, the Williams Lake Stampeders. Puck drop is at 7:30 pm.