Tonight in Prince George the Prince George Cougars are set to welcome their largest crowd of the season.

It’s Teddy Bear Toss 2015 and while Teddy Bear games always bring with them a heightened energy and excitement, it’s also important from a hockey standpoint to remember that these are two incredibly important points up for grabs for the Prince George Cougars and tonight they’ll look to avenge Friday’s 2-0 loss when they once again square off with the Victoria Royals.

A win in regulation tonight would vault the Cougars back into second place in the B.C. Division and would no doubt send the players into their holiday break feeling a little happier and accomplished. The Cougars have had a heck of a start up to this point in 2015-16, and tonight they’ll look to earn their 21^st victory in their 34^th game. 

VICTORIA ROYALS 

Overview: 

Enio Sacilloto’s Victoria Royals were full marks an evening ago. They scored twice in the first, got stellar goaltending, and played a very disciplined and organized road game which allowed them to secure their 21^st victory of the season. Overall the Royals are 21-11-1-1 and their 44 points have them ranked second in the B.C. Division two points ahead of the Prince George Cougars. No team has managed to sweep the Cougars in a weekend double-header this season, and Victoria will try to become the first team to do so tonight in the rematch. 

Who’s Up Front: 

Offensively the Royals were led last night by a pair of veterans in Jack Walker and Logan Fisher. The 19-year-old Walker scored the game’s first goal and 20-year-old Logan Fisher added the second Victoria marker later in the period. While the Royals may lack the likes of a Brandon Magee or an Austin Carroll from years past, they still have plenty of offensive speed, skill and depth which was on full display last night. 

Who’s on D: 

Defensively the Royals were without their captain Joe Hicketts, but that didn’t seem to phase them as they did a fine job of neutralizing the Cougars potent offensive attack. LA Kings prospect Chaz Reddekop logged a bulk of the minutes defensively for Victoria while fellow veterans Ryan Gagnon and Marsel Ibragimov did their part in protecting their own zone while moving the puck well up the ice. Tonight the Cougars can once again expect a steady diet of Reddekop, Gagnon, Ibragimov and Ralph Jarratt. 

Who’s in Goal: 

The Victoria Royals coaching staff has a tough decision to make. Do they go back with the 17-year-old Griffen Outhouse who made 39 saves in a shutout victory last night? Or do they go with their veteran 20-year-old Coleman Vollrath who has stellar career numbers against the Prince George Cougars. Odds are that the message to both coming into the weekend was that both were going to get a game, but this is hockey and nothing is ever etched in stone. Regardless of whether it’s Outhouse or Vollrath, the Cougars will be in tough as both goaltenders have proven that they are capable and confident this season. 

X-Factor: 

Are the Royals content with a split or do they want to head home on their holiday break with four points from this weekend in their back pocket? On one side the Cougars mental toughness will be tested because they are looking to bounce back. On the other side the Royals mental toughness will be put to the test because we’ll soon find out whether they are content with a split or whether they have that necessary killer instinct to become the first team all season to sweep the Cougars in a home double header.

PRINCE GEORGE COUGARS 

Overview: 

Mark Holick’s Prince George Cougars still have every reason to feel good about their game and their record heading into game number 34 of their season. Despite last night’s loss the Cougars record sits at 20-11-1-1 and their 42 points still have them within striking distance of second place in the B.C. Division standings. All season long the Cougars have responded well after losses, and tonight’s game is another one of those ‘character testers.’ There should be no shortage of energy and no shortage of motivation inside that dressing room tonight, and in front of the largest crowd of the season to date you can bet that the Cougars are going to be ready for battle tonight. 

Who’s Up Front: 

Was it the most complete game of the season by the Cougars forwards corps? No. But despite some struggles the Cougars still managed to put 39 shots on the Victoria goal, and had it not been for several heroic saves from Griffen Outhouse last night’s game could have had an entirely different feel and result to it. Keep in mind as well that at one point in the first period the shots on goal were 9-0 for Prince George. Offensively this team is in sync and there’s no reason to fix what ain’t broke. Look for the top six forwards: Chase Witala, Brogan O’Brien, Jesse Gabrielle, Jansen Harkins, Brad Morrison and Jared Bethune to once again lead the charge offensively. Having that motivation of being the ‘Teddy Bear’ goal scorer should certainly help the cause as well tonight. 

Who’s on D: 

Defending the Victoria Royals in 2015-16 is a little different than in years prior. Big menacing bodies like Keegan Kanzig, Taylor Crunk and Austin Carroll are gone and now the Royals are more of a speed and skilled team with the likes of Matthew Phillips and Dante Hannoun making life tough for opposing defenders because of how shifty and quick they are. Defensively the Cougars need to be mindful of these ‘new’ Royals and not allow them to wheel and deal the puck off of the rush. Once again the likes of Sam Ruopp, Joe Carvalho and Tate Olson are going to be in for a busy night, and you can bet that they are ready to embrace the challenge that the Royals present to them tonight.

Who’s in Goal: 

After allowing two first period goals on 14 shots in the first, Ty Edmonds settled down nicely after that and stopped the remaining 19 shots fired his way and was named the game’s second star in the process. On most nights this season Ty Edmonds has been the best goaltender on the ice, so it’s unusual for Edmonds to play second fiddle to an opposing team’s hot goaltender. Did Edmonds play well enough to garner another start tonight? Sure. But Nick McBride was outstanding last Saturday in Portland in their Teddy Bear game and is deserving of an opportunity as well to try and lead this team back into the win column. Once again it’s nice to have these types of options and you can bet that whoever gets the nod tonight in goal for the Cougars will be charged up and excited for the opportunity to lead the team into battle tonight during Teddy Bear Toss. 

X-Factor: 

The sooner the Teddy Bear goal is scored, the better. The longer the delay and the longer the anticipation, the tougher it gets for everyone on the home bench. Teddy Bear Toss is remarkably fun, but there’s also an added element of pressure attached to the game and any coach or player will tell you that getting the Teddy Bear goal out of the way early puts everyone in the best frame of mind possible. Again, the crowd tonight is expected to be at our near a sellout, and that fact alone should be another great encourager for this Prince George Cougars team who has played so well as of late, and now they’ll get to strut their stuff in front of a charged up holiday crowd that you know will be ready to go crazy once that first goal is scored!