The Cariboo Cougars bounced back Sunday with a 5-3 win over the Vancouver NE Chiefs to earn the weekend split and enter the playoffs on a winning note.

The Cats got off to a blazing start as Brad Morrison scored just 31 seconds into the first from Ryan Forbes and Eli Jarvis. But just under a minute later the Chiefs got one back to tie the game at one. Morrison got his second at the 2:44 mark to re-take the lead but the Chiefs once again responded with Brandon Volpe's second of the game just over seven minutes in. 46 seconds later Liam Blackburn scored his 34th of the season from Logan Styler and Braiden Epp.

The back and forth goal filled first continued as the Chiefs tied the game once again with 8:33 on the clock. Blackburn re-took the lead just over a minute later with his second of the game on the power play. Captain Ryan Forbes gave the Cats their first and only two goal lead of the game in the final minute of the first. With an assist, Morrison earned his 50th point of the season.

Following a barn burner of an opening frame neither team could put another puck in the net as the Cougars outshot the Chiefs 45-40 with Jeremy Matte earning the win in net.

The Cougars finish the regular season with a club best record of 31-8-1. Blackburn ended the season with 35 goals and 50 assists for 85 points, all team records. The Cougars host the South Island Royals in the BCMML quarterfinals starting Friday at the Prince George Coliseum.

The Cariboo Cougars had their eight game win streak snapped with a 6-3 loss to the Vancouver NE Chiefs Saturday in Coquitlam.

It was the first loss for the Cats since early January and also breaks a 12-game unbeaten streak.

As has often been the case, the Cougars came out of the gate strong and opened scoring thanks to Liam Blackburn's 32nd of the year.  He got a nice stretch feed from Stephen Penner and sped past the Chiefs defenders for a breakaway beating Nick McBride.

The Chiefs tied the game at one later in the opening frame before taking a 2-1 lead with just 14 seconds on the clock.

The score remained the same until the Chiefs went up 3-1 with seven and a half minutes to go in the middle frame.  Blackburn got his second of the game, on the power play two minutes later to cut the lead to one.  But once again the home squad got one in the final minute of the period to re-take the two goal lead heading into the third.

The Cats started the third much like the first as Braiden Epp scored on a nice feed from Logan Styler just 47 seconds in to make it a one-goal game.  But that's as close as the Cougars would get as the Chiefs scored twice within a minute late in the third to pull away for their first win over the Cougars since November 2010.

Nathan Warren took the loss in net, just his seventh of the season as the Cats record stands at 30-8-1 heading into Sunday's final regular season game.  Puckdrop against the Chiefs at Planet Ice is set for 11:45am.

Cariboo Cougars goaltender Nathan Warren has committed to play for the BCHL's Nanaimo Clippers next season.

The 17-year old Prince George native becomes the third Cougar to commit to the Clippers following captain Ryan Forbes and defenceman Stephen Penner.

"It's pretty exciting to commit to a great franchise like Nanaimo," said Warren.

"It's a bonus to go there with great players and friends like Forbes and Penner.  I'm looking forward to next season with the Clippers and I feel ready and excited to make the next step to the BCHL."

Warren is having a stellar season as the Cougars number one netminder having just tied alumnus Jared Rathjen for the most wins in a single season with 20.  In 26 games this year, Warren has a 20-5-1 record with a 2.38 GAA and six shutouts.

"We are extremely excited to have Nathan on board for next season," said Clippers Head Coach and General Manager Mike Vandekamp. 

"Our scouting staff has had the opportunity to watch him extensively this season including at the Mac’s Tournament. They were very impressed with his size, athleticism and compete level.  We would like to welcome Nathan and his Family to the Clipper Family."

The 6'3" 190 pound goalie is in his second year as a Cariboo Cougar having led the team to last year's championship series alongside David Readman.

Warren is also a two-time BC Major Midget Allstar and was named the BCMML player of the month for November.

Congratulations Nathan!

The Cariboo Cougars are in Coquitlam this weekend for their final weekend series of the regular season taking on the Vancouver NE Chiefs.

The Cats are riding a season high eight game win streak and are unbeaten in their last 12 games having outscored their opposition 59-19 during the current win streak.

The Cougars have already secured second place in the BCMML and will face the South Island Royals in the quarterfinals starting next Friday in Prince George.

But before the playoffs begin the Cougars have some unfinished business to attend to.  The team has already hit a club record high number of wins in a single season with 30 and will be looking to build on that to gain further momentum heading into the post-season.  Nathan Warren currently sits tied with Jared Rathjen for the most wins in a single season by a Cariboo Cougar goaltender with 20 and will look to break that against the Chiefs.

The hometown Chiefs are coming off their final bye weekend of the season having been swept by the Valley West Hawks the weekend prior.  The Chiefs are 2-5-1 in their last eight and have not recorded a win against the Cougars since November, 2010.  The Cougars swept the Chiefs in Prince George back in October.  The Chiefs are secure in fourth place with a 22-12-4 record and will face either the Greater Vancouver Canadians or the Valley West Hawks in the first round of the playoffs.

Saturday's game is set for a 4:15pm start with Sunday's final regular season meeting between the Cats and Chiefs at 11:45am, both at Coquitlam's Planet Ice.