Troy Bourke Nets A Hat Trick In 5-3 Cougars Win

Friday, November 26, 2010 10:26 PM

16 Year old forward Troy Bourke showed the Regina Pats just want kind of talent he has Friday night. Bourke recorded his first career WHL hat-trick in leading the Cougars to a 5-3 win over the Pats for back-to-back Cougars wins.

The Cougars were meeting the Pats for the only time this season and coming off a 4-0 shut-out victory over the Chilliwack Bruins Wednesday night. The Cougars were hosting a Pats squad finishing their BC Division tour, going 1-1-2-0 in the first four games. The Cougars jumped on the board first, with Bourke cutting to the middle of the ice in the Pats zone from the right wing, then snapping a wrist shot blocker side on Pats goalie Damien Ketlo for his seventh goal of the season. Cody Carlson, the former Regina Pat acquired in October, earned the lone assist at 8:08. The Cougars added to their lead when Brett Connolly tipped in Sena Acolatse's point shot for his 19th goal of the season at 11:07 to make it 2-0 Prince George. Connolly gets his 19th goal of the season, with Acolatse and Martin Marincin assisting on the power play marker. The Cougars added to their lead late in the frame, when Charles Inglis took the puck on the left wing, then fed a beautiful pass cross ice to Bourke. Bourke wasted no time in wiring home his second of the game at 19:26 for a 3-0 Cougars lead. Nick Buonassisi got an assist, as well. Although they led by three goals, the Cougars were out-shot in the first 11-10, with James Priestner perfect in the opening 20 minutes. Priestner was coming off the 28 save shut-out over the Bruins Wednesday.

In the second period, more from 16-year old Bourke of Onoway, Alberta. Bourke followed Buonassisi on a rush down the left wing and when the puck popped loose, Bourke fired it home glove side for his hat-trick goal, the first Cougar to pull off the feat this season. Buonassisi and Acolatse earned assists on the goal that made it 4-0 Prince George at 12:53 of the second. Another last minute goal for the Cougars, when Greg Fraser blocked Brandon Davidson's shot at the Cougars blue line and pulled away with a breakaway. Fraser then placed the puck perfectly on the blocker hand for his second goal in as many nights and fifth of the season. The Cougars out-shot the Pats 16-10 in the second and had a 5-0 lead through 40 minutes.

The Pats cut into the lead with goals from Myles Bell on the power play at 8:33, Jordan Weal at 13:56 and Mikael Jung at 18:43, but the Cougars celebrated their 13th win of the season, improving to 13-10-2-0 with the 5-3 verdict. The Cougars also improved their home ice record to 5-5-1-0 with the win and are 4-4-1-0 in the month of November. The Pats out-shot Prince George 14-8 in the third and 35-34 in the game, but fall to 7-15-4-1. The Cougars went 1-for-5 on the power play, while the Pats were 1-for-4. The Cougars are 11-0-1-0 when scoring four goals in a game this season.

The Cougars head on the road Saturday for their third meeting of the year with the Kamloops Blazers at Interior Savings Centre. The last time the Cougars were there, Acolatse had five points and the Cougars bombed Kamloops 8-1 on October 16. The Cougars next home game is Wednesday, December 1 against the Calgary Hitmen, starting at 7:00pm at CN Centre. Tickets are available by calling Ticketmaster at 250-564-5585.

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