Cougars Captain Sidelined for Rest of the Playoffs

By 250 Sports

Prince George Cougars challenge of knocking off the #1 CHL rated team in Canada just grew larger. The Cats, who lost a  pair of one-goal decisions in Everett, the second one in overtime, head into game three of the Western Hockey League Western Conference semi-final Tuesday night without captain Eric Hunter for the rest of the playoffs. Hunter broke is ankle late in the first period Saturday night at the home of the Silvertips.

“It was a collision at centre ice with former Cougar Dan Gendur, it was innocent enough, Eric’s foot got caught in a rut, his body went one way and his foot stayed there, unfortunately something had to give and it was Eric’s ankle,” said Cougars head coach Drew Schoneck. The 20 year-old Hunter broke his ankle in three places. The veteran forward, who had 4 points in the first round elimination of Kamloops, will end his junior career watching his teammates. Despite the loss of Hunter Schoneck expects the Cougars to be ready for the favoured Silvertips. “We are right there with them, it’s a matter of having a little more puck luck around the net, we played well enough to maybe be here with a split but that’s playoff hockey, we have to concentrate of getting our first one Tuesday night.” That concentration will include paying attention to Silvertips #88 Peter Mueller. The NHL first round draft pick scored 3 goals against the Cougars in Everett, including a pair Saturday night. Mueller forced overtime with 3:35 left in regulation.

“That was a goal scorer’s goal, from the side of net almost on the goal line,” noted the Cougars head coach.

“He’s going to get his chances; you just have to make sure you limit how many he gets.”

The Cats and ‘Tips faceoff at 7PM Tuesday and Wednesday night at CN Centre.

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