Home of the Cariboo Cougars

FCI: Year In Review

It's been a week since I signed off for the last time for the Cougars this season. A week has gone by where I haven't had to update stats, or go to training to get audio clips or do any game research and show prep...I miss it dearly. Here is some end-of-season notes and thoughts as summer comes to Prince George.

Training Camp Notice

A message for all out-of-town players who are selected to continue with the team after the training camp weekend, that you are required to bring the following:

Your birth certificate
Last school report card
Registration package (if it has not yet been submitted)

If there are any questions, please contact Andy Beesley at 250 552 7087

Third Period Comeback Earns Tie

The Cariboo Cougars took three of four weekend points against the visiting Okanagan Rockets with a 4-4 tie Sunday.

Down two goals in the third, the Cats got one back early in the third with Cougar Captain Tanner Fjellstrom scoring on a penalty shot with just a minute left in the game to tie it at four.

Cougar defenceman Josh Connolly opened scoring midway through the first with a hard wrister for his first goal of the season, beating Okanagan goaltender Harrison Whitlock. The Rockets responded just over two minutes later with their first goal of the season as Justin Marreck scored on the power play beating David Readman for the first time this weekend.

Fjellstrom scored 7:39 into the second to put the Cats back up by one. But once again, the Rockets responded, this time with two goals in little over two minutes to take their first lead of the weekend.

Parker Bowles then added another Rockets goal early in the third to go up 4-2. But a little over a minute later Nathan Craft cut the lead to one. The Rockets appeared headed to the weekend split before a penalty shot was awarded with just 1:05 on the clock after the referee determined Whitlock knocked the net off its moorings on purpose. Fjellstrom then made no mistake going forehand, backhand lifting the puck past Whitlock and tying the game, salvaging a single point.

Cougars Assistant Coach Bryan MacLean says the late break gives a bit of breathing room between the Cats and at least one other team in the tight BCMML. "Three of four is nice, I guess we caught a bit of a break there but you're not allowed to knock the net off on purpose, they broke the rules and we got a fortunate break out of it and (Fjellstrom) put one home. For us that's good to steal that point and get out of here with three of four because Okanagan's not too far off from us in the standings," said MacLean.

After Saturday night's 6-0 game ended in a bruhaha of sorts, the Cougars made sure to keep their heads about them going into Sunday's rematch.

"It was a pretty exciting moment, everybody was really happy about it and really excited but it's important to keep focused on the next game and just keep moving forward," said Cougar Forward Jake LeBrun.

The Cougars outshot the Rockets 43-27 going 0/6 on the power play Sunday, allowing one goal against on the penalty kill on five Okanagan opportunities.

The Cougars record now stands at 20-8-6 as the team heads back on the road next weekend to face the Thompson Blazers Saturday and Sunday in Chase.

Cougars Invited to MAC's Tournament

The Cariboo Cougars have once again been invited to play in the prestigious MAC's Midget Tournament.

The world's most highly regarded Midget tournament will be held in Calgary from December 26th to January 1st.

"The Cariboo Cougars are thrilled to be one of the very first teams invited to this year’s prestigious MAC's tournament," said Cougars Manager Andy Beesley. "It’s a real credit to the whole team, to have put themselves in the position to be considered among the elite midget hockey teams in Canada."

The MAC's tournament is an excellent opportunity for players to showcase themselves in front of scouts from across North America.

The Cougars currently sit in top spot in the BCMML Standings with a record of 8-4-2.

By The Numbers: Individual

Welcome to part three of 'By the Numbers', an in depth look at the Cougars regular season.We started with the situational, then moving to the opponents, and now finishing with a breakdown of individuals on the team. There is no 'I' in team, and the Cougars play that way. They win as a team and lose as a team, however in this edition, we'll highlight some of the individual numbers that have made this Cougars season such an entertaining one.