Cougars Melt Ice 4-1 Friday

By 250 News

Hudson Stremmel made 31 saves, 24 of which in the first two periods, to collect his first Western Hockey League victory and Jaroslav Vlach's first WHL goal stood up as the winner Friday, as the Cougars downed the Kootenay Ice 4-1.

The Cougars were coming off a heartbreaking 6-5 loss to the Calgary Hitmen Wednesday and had dropped four in a row going into the finale of a six game home stand.  Meanwhile, the Ice went into the game looking to sweep the BC Divison, recording impressive wins over Kamloops, Kelowna, Chilliwack and lastly Vancouver Wednesday by a 6-2 score.  The Ice came out flying in the first 10 minutes of the opening period, but Stremmel was very sharp, making timely saves in close.  The Ice had a 14-2 advantage in shots at one point and ended up out-shooting Prince George 15-4, but the game remained scoreless.  Nathan Lieuwen was in goal for Kootenay and made a couple of tough saves as well.

In the second period, the Cougars started to take over the game, but could not find a way to solve Lieuwen.  The Ice, meantime, had a few great scoring chances on Stremmel, but the Reno, Nevada product kept coming up large for Prince George.  Stremmel robbed Steele Boomer, who went in on a 2-on-1, taking a pass on the right wing and then swinging in front of the net, where he appeared to have Stremmel beat.  But Stremmel reached back with his stick side hand and somehow kept the puck out.  Both goalies were perfect through two periods, as the Cougars out-shot Kootenay 15-9 in the second for a two period total of 24-19 in Kootenay's favour.

In the third, the Cougars went to the power play four minutes in, but a turn over at the Kootenay blue line gave Joe Antilla a breakaway, which he would convert for a short handed goal at 5:31 to break the ice for the Ice.  But 31 seconds later, and two seconds after the power play expired, the Cougars roared back.  Dallas Jackson let fly a one timer that squeezed behind Lieuwen and James Dobrowolski would eventually tap home the loose puck in a goal mouth scramble for his team leading eighth goal of the season.  Parker Stanfield drew an assist along with Jackson.  Dobrowolski was at it again, this time as the set-up man.  On a 3-on-2 break out of the Cougars zone, Dobrowolski dropped the puck for Vlach, who leaned into a wrist shot for his first WHL goal, picking the top glove hand corner to give the Cougars a 2-1 lead at 10:58.  Just over three minutes later, after another big save by Stremmel, Dobrowolski knocked the puck to centre where Stanfield would collect it and on a 2-on-1 rush with Nick Buonassisi, Stanfield would knock the water bottle off the top of the net with a perfect shot for his fifth goal of the year and second in as many games.  Brock Hirsche would finish the scoring with an empty net goal while short handed, the third time the Cougars have scored this season while on the penalty kill, at 17:02 for a 4-1 victory.  Hirsche's goal was unassisted for his sixth of the year.  The Cougars out-shot Kootenay 10-8 in the third, but were out-shot in the game 32-29.  Both teams went 0-for-4 on the power play.

The Cougars don't have much time to relish their victory, which improves the club's record to 5-21-1-1.  The Cats begin a five game road trip in Kamloops Saturday night, against a Blazers squad that was ambushed by Tri-City 7-0 Friday night in Kamloops.  The Cougars will then play four games in five nights next week in Spokane, Tri-City, Everett and Chilliwack.  The Cougars next home game is Friday, December 18 against the Blazers to begin a weekend double header between the two rivals.  Fans will have an opportunity to support the SPCA's pet food and supply drive on the 18th by bringing pet food and supplies for the SPCA to collect at the game.  The next night, December 19th, is the Cougars Teddy Bear and Toque Toss night, the final game before the Christmas break.  Tickets are available by calling Ticketmaster at 250-564-5585.

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