October 31st is the night people dress in bizarre, outlandish costumes, which make children, adults and seniors scream in HORROR. In many parts of the world, this occasion is Halloween. In Prince George; however, this event is a Cougars and Spruce Kings game night.

 

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The Prince George Cougars have just three wins, in 13 games. At the risk of sounding gloom and doom, the team may be fortunate to win only three in their next 13 games.

 

The Cats caught a sigh of relief when they snapped an 8-game losing streak with that 5-4 shootout victory over the Chilliwack Bruins to gain a split of the double-header, but reality is the victories could continue to be rare.

 

The Cougars may be healthier than they were during the losing skid; however, they now enter arguably the toughest part of their schedule. In addition, the Cats begin a stretch of difficult games with two new goalies (American Hudson Stremmel and PG native Alex Wright) following the departure of starter James Priestner.

 

This weekend they host Tri-City in a double-header to close out October. The 11-3 Americans, ranked #5 in the CHL, just had a 9-game win streak end Wednesday in Chilliwack.

Looking ahead to November, the schedule does not improve. The Cougars travel to Kelowna (4^th) to face the defending champion Rockets, and then off to a daunting 6-game prairie road trip which includes stops in Swift Current (6th), Moose Jaw (7th), Regina (10th Shaw TV), Brandon (11th), Prince Albert (13th) and Saskatoon (14th).

 

Once that grind is complete, the Cougars will return home for a pair of double-headers; first against Kelowna (20th and 21st) and then vs Vancouver (27th and 28th). Did I mention the Giants have won their last 15 head-to-head meetings with the Cats?

 

Therefore, in the next month, the Cougars play 13 games. Now, do you see what I mean? Three wins during this difficult stretch really is not far-fetched.

(PS. December starts with a lot of fun as well when the Calgary Hitmen come to CN Centre on the 2nd.  The Hitmen are the top ranked team in the CHL)

 

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Not surprisingly, just like the team’s plight on the ice, the Cougars announced attendance is dwindling as evidenced in the first six home games:

 

·        4985   Sept 18   Spokane ( Note: Several hundred giveaway tickets for opening night)

·        2552   Sept 19   Spokane

·        2147   Oct    2   Lethbridge

·        2271   Oct    3   Lethbridge

·        2202   Oct 23   Chilliwack

·        2017   Oct 24   Chilliwack

These figures average 2238 for the last 5 home games and 2696 overall. Keep in mind these numbers represent tickets sold, and not necessarily, how many fans are in the building for a particular game.

 

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Have you noticed how many ex PG Cougars have been on the NHL injured list this young season?

 

St. Louis Blues defenceman Eric Brewer has missed the most time as a knee injury has sidelined him for 10 months.

 

Nashville blue liner Dan Hamhuis missed four games with the Predators due to that infamous upper body injury. (I thought teams usually wait until the playoffs to give that kind of detail).

 

An injured leg has forced San Jose sniper Devon Setoguchi to miss a couple of games.

 

Edmonton defenceman Sheldon Souray, who continually gets hurt, is out with a concussion.

 

Another player who has difficulty staying in one piece is Philadelphia Flyers fourth-line center Blair Betts, who is progressing from a dislocated right shoulder.

 

Moreover, New York Islanders right-winger Trent Hunter is sidelined with a torn pectoral muscle. (That sounds painful).

 

By the way, another ex Cat, Minnesota Wild tough guy forward, Derek Boogaard, missed a recent game due to an illness. I assume it was physical.

 

With names like Brewer, Hamhuis, Setoguchi, Souray, Betts, and Hunter it brings back memories that the Cougars actually did have talent in the past. It is just that it seems like so long ago.

 

 

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I find myself really pulling for the often-maligned Casey Printers. He developed a reputation of having a bad attitude in his last year (2005) with the BC Lions after winning the CFL’s most outstanding player award with the Lions in 2004.

 

Printers actually thought he had a chance in the NFL with the Kansas City Chiefs, but that dream died quickly. When he returned to the CFL with the Hamilton Tiger Cats, he was a bust and because his performance was so poor, no other team in the league wanted to take a chance on him.

 

Only because of multiple quarterback injuries did BC Lions coach Wally Buono put aside personal differences from the past to bring Printers back into the fold.

 

Judging by his performance in his first game (339 passing yards) in that 33-30 overtime loss to Saskatchewan, Printers looked impressive enough to make one think he is one of those players that is meant for just one uniform. Now, I am not comparing him to Trevor Linden, although Linden was only sensational with the Canucks and not the Islanders, Habs or Capitals. It must be something about the beautiful BC air!

 

Comedy writer Jerry Perishohttp://monologuewriter.blogspot.com/

 A Philadelphia woman has been arrested for prostitution after she offered sex to undercover officers in exchange for World Series tickets. She reportedly referred to herself as the Ticket Master. 

A Northwest Airlines plane overshot the runway in Minneapolis by 150 miles. Who was the pilot, JaMarcus Russell?Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California

 

Forget "Where the Wild Things Are?" At this point the biggest decision Canadian parents face about exposing their children to scary entertainment is whether or not to let them watch the Maple Leafs.Contributor Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California (www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com)

 The US Government is reducing bonuses paid to companies that almost destroyed the economy but a spokesman for the Maple Leafs say Brian Burke will still get his.

 Contributor Derek Wilken of Calgary (http://smacksport.blogspot.com/)

Comedy writer Marc Ragovin of New York

 Comedian Soupy Sales has died at age 83. He estimated that in his career he was hit with 25,000 pies. Coincidentally, that is the same number of pies that Kirstie Alley has eaten. 

Comedy writer Jim Barach of WCHS-TV in Charleston, W.Va (http://jokesbyjim.blogspot.com/)

After signing with the Broncos — his 11th NFL team in 16 seasons — punter Mitch Berger's résumé includes at least one team now represented in each of the league's eight divisions: the NFC East, Central, South and West, and the AFC East, Central, North and West.
Now that is what you call directional kicking.Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/sidelinechatter/