Cariboo Cougars Eliminate Bruins

By Kelly Sharp

 Cougars David Verticchio supports teammate against Bruins defender at Kin One

Two shorthanded goals and a gritty effort by an injury depleted blue line sparked the Cariboo Cougars to a 5-3 victory over the Fraser Valley Bruins in the third a deciding game of the BC Hockey Major Midget League semi-final before over 500 in the 800 seat Prince George Kin One Centre . A short handed tally by Joe Morgan gave the major midget Cougars a 2-1 lead after 2o minutes. Fraser Valley tied it early in the second period, less than 2 minutes later Brennan Billey tapped in a loose puck for the Cariboo Cougars to regain the lead. Ryan Howse on a shorthanded breakaway put the Cougars ahead 4-2 in the third period.

“We typically don’t give up those types,” said Fraser Valley head coach Pat Ansell who admitted mental fatigue crept into the Bruins game.

Fraser Valley pulled within 4-3 while goalie Nathan Lieuwen was on the bench for an extra attacker. But an empty-netter from Brock Palasty solidified the Cariboo Cougars as the host team for next weekend’s MML best-of-three final against the Vancouver Northwest Giants.

“Our defense was the key,” Cariboo Cougars head coach Grant Williams.  Injuries had the Prince George major midgets down to 4 blueliners for most of the last two games in the semi-final.

“We were trying to keep them to the outside,” Cougars defenseman Kyle Weber said. Weber and his teammates kept many of the 21 Fraser Valley shots to the perimeter for goalie Damien Ketlo. The Cougars fired 27 shots on the Bruins net. David Verticchio also scored for the host club who grew more comfortable the longer the playoff series progressed.

“We bent a couple of times, but never broke,” Williams proudly added. “Never on the bench was there a feeling of panic.”

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