Cougars Win Third In A Row On Teddy Bear and Toque Toss Night 3-2

By 250 News

Cats celebrate on the ice and jumbotron as teddies rain down at 7:59 of 1st period

Prince George, B.C. - The Prince George Cougars will head into the Christmas break with a three game winning streak and first place in the BC Division.  The Cougars built a 3-0 lead through two periods and held on for a 3-2 victory over the Kamloops Blazers.

The Cougars defeated the Blazers 3-2 Friday night when Greg Fraser scored with 27.9 seconds to go in the game and Ty Rimmer kicked out 41 shots in goal.  Fraser would open the scoring at 7:59 of the first period, with Saturday being the Teddy Bear and Toque Toss game.  Taylor Stefishen worked the puck from the side of the goal in front for Fraser, who had an open net to score his 10th goal of the year, extending his goal scoring streak to four.  Cody Carlson, playing in his 200th WHL game, also earned an assist, giving Carlson and Stefishen both four game point streaks.  Stefishen would add a second assist at 16:47, feeding Spencer Asuchak in front of the net for his 12th goal of the year, giving the Cougars a 2-0 lead through 20 minutes.  The Blazers out-shot the Cougars 12-10.

In the second period, Kamloops carried the play, but the Cougars scored the only goal.  Troy Bourke pulled the puck around Lanigan and scored his 10th goal of the season at 15:12.  Charles Inglis and Nick Buonassisi drew the helpers on the goal, giving Inglis a four game point streak.  Bourke and defenceman Josh Smith will head to Manitoba to represent Team Pacific at the World Under-17 Challenge, starting December 29.  The Cougars were out-shot 13-4 in the second and 25-14 through two periods, but had a 3-0 lead through 40 minutes.

The Blazers made a goalie chance after the second period, with Jeff Bosch taking over for Lanigan.  Kamloops would get on the board at 4:22 of the third on a power play goal from Thomas Frazee to cut the lead to 3-1.  Then after Cody Carlson got pulled down in the Cougars end trying to clear the puck, the Blazers kept the play alive in the zone and Chase Schaber scored at 13:46 to make it 3-2 Cougars.  But that's as close as the Blazers would come, as the Cougars win their third straight game, improving to 18-14-2-1 on the season through 35 games.  The Cougars 39 points are one ahead of the Kelowna Rockets for first in the BC Division.  The Cougars have now won four straight against Kamloops, with the Blazers dropping to 15-18-1-1. 

The Blazers out-shot the Cougars 13-9 in the third and 38-23, but Ty Rimmer's 36 saves gives him 7-4-0-1 record as a Cougar.  The Cougars went 0-for-6 on the power play, while the Blazers were 1-for-5.  (photo at right shows Rimmer in the thick of the action)

The Cougars will not return to action until December 28, when they play the fourth game of an eight game home stand against the Chilliwack Bruins.  Puck drop is 7:00pm at CN Centre and tickets are available by calling Ticketmaster at 250-564-5585.

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