Giants Eliminate Cougars

By 250 Sports

The Cats ran out of gas in a 5-1 season-ending loss at Vancouver’s Pacific Coliseum. The Memorial Cup bound Giants captured the best-of-seven Western Hockey League Western Conference final 4 games to 1. Determined to avoid another long bus ride north, the Giants charged into a 3-0 lead after 20 minutes. Kenndal McArdle and Wacey Rabbit scored off rebounds 33 seconds apart on Scott Bowles who found no support in front of the Prince George net. McArdle’s tenth playoff goal came on the power play. Another man-advantage produced a goal from James Wright on a redirection. Vancouver outshot Prince George 17-3 in the opening period. A one-timer from Michal Repik gave the Giants a 4-0 cushion after two periods. The Giants Milan Lucic and Cougars Greg Gardner exchanged third period goals in a game the Giants outshot the Cats 46-10.

Injuries are top secret in post-season, but the Cougars were obviously banged up in the Vancouver series. It was the last junior game for the Cougars Jared Walker and Scott Bowles who joined injured captain Eric Hunter as overagers. The Cougars elimination coupled with the Medicine Hat Tigers 4-3 overtime victory against the Calgary Hitmen assured the Tigers will join host Vancouver in next month’s Memorial Cup. The Giants and Tigers will square off in the WHL championship series.

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