Working The Corners

By Kelly Sharp

Tis another season of discontent swirling around the two junior hockey clubs in Prince George. I hear the Cougar faithful wondering if the pre-season buzz on the supposedly strong Prince George club was just wishful thinking. High expectations can pave the way for big disappointment. Let’s face it, the true reality check on how far the Cougars claw in the playoffs will come down to how well they prevent goals, meaning the guy behind the mask will shoulder the burden of pressure.

The grumbling heard in the Prince George Coliseum grows louder each game. The smaller Spruce King forwards cannot find a way around the visiting defensemen who usually use size and reach to smother the Kings offense.  The biggest question for the Spruce King fans is what team will show up on Coliseum ice? Inconsistency is a label well attached to both the Kings and Cats lineups. The Spruce Kings road swing on Vancouver Island, four games in four days, beginning tonight, will have a major impact on shaping the roster before the January 10^th trading deadline. One thing’s for certain, the Kings are shopping for an experienced goaltender to carry the load for the RBC Royal Bank Cup host team.

The CJAHL prospects game, a poorer cousin to the CHL prospects game was held in Vernon. It was the second annual East-West format for players aged 19-and-under. The Canadian Junior A Hockey League is striving for more recognition, albeit baby steps with no national media attention and by the sounds of it a poorly attended game at the Vernon Multi-plex. The West with six BCHLers beat the East 5-2. Three of West goals came on the power-play.

Email | Print | Facebook | Twitter | Digg | Del.icio.us