Cariboo Cougars Face Must-Win Scenario

By Kelly Sharp

         Cariboo Cougars swarm Fraser Valley goalie Thomas Heemskerk, Cougars lose 5-2

            in opener of  BC Hockey Major Midget semi-final.

The Prince George based Cariboo Cougars were humbled 5-2 by the Fraser Valley Bruins in the opening game of the best-of-three BC Hockey Major Midget League semi-final at the Prince George Coliseum.  Deadlocked 1-1 after the opening period, the Chilliwack based major midgets erupted for 3 consecutive second period goals to chase Prince George starting netminder Alex Wright to the bench for Damien Ketlo. Rylan Stanyler pulled the Cougars within 4-2 before the Bruins regained a 3 goal lead. Ryan Howse, who converted a pretty 3-way passing play in the first period for the Prince George major midgets, could not beat Bruins goalie Thomas Heemskerk on a penalty shot with 5 seconds left in the second period. The Fraser Valley goalie earned first star honours, mostly off his outstanding first period when the Cougars were robbed in-close on at least 3 quality scoring chances.

“If we would have bared down on a bunch of our chances, the result would have gone a different way,” Cariboo Cougars forward Graeme Lodge said.

Lodge admitted the play-off jitters got to the BC Hockey Major Midget League regular season champs. Fraser Valley appeared more play-off tested after surviving a 3-game first round playoff series last weekend.

Since clinching the regular season title, the Cariboo Cougars coaching staff has been telling the major midgets not to over prepare for the playoff experience.

“We (coaching staff) tried our best to get the message across to them, obviously we failed,” said Cariboo Cougars head coach Grant Williams said.

“It’s now up to us to get the boys to understand that this was just one game and put it behind them, use it as a learning experience. We have no fear of them (Bruins) we just have to overcome ourselves.”

The Cariboo Cougars need a win Saturday night against Fraser Valley to force a deciding game Sunday afternoon.  Game time is 7:30 pm at the Prince George Coliseum.

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