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HARTLEY MILLER’S HART ATTACK – (Will this be the PG Cougars breakthrough season?) September 23, 2016 EDITION 594

As the WHL gets ready to open its 51st season the expectation from most of the 22 teams will be to show improvement from the previous year.

The Prince George Cougars are not only seeking a big rise in the standings but a step forward in the playoffs.

The coaches, management, front office staff, players and fans are optimistic the 2016-17 edition of the Cougars can get on a run to at least match the P.G. team of 10 years ago that reached the Western Conference Final.

This is unquestionably a tall order, especially when one considers since the 2006-07 season, the franchise has never gone beyond the first round.

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The EDGEPRO ownership group has helped to rejuvenate interest in major junior hockey in Prince George.

Attendance has nearly doubled under their watch going from an average of 1,693 in the 2013-14 season to 3,122 in 2015-16.

The six owners and their employees can be proud of what they have accomplished off the ice in a short period of time, but having a building slightly more than half full is far from the goal.

A heavy financial investment has been made in the hope that the rewards will be playoff success and ultimately a coveted banner.

When General Manager Todd Harkins was given the reigns, his first mandate was to lead the team from an also-ran to the post-season.

This has been done in both years under his watch with one of the younger rosters in the league.

The belief was that by year three, with a largely veteran group, that the Cougars would escalate from lower middle of the pack to the upper echelon.

Well folks, this is year three and welcome to the 72-game grind.

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The 2015-16 Cougars were 6th out of 10 in the Western Conference and 13th out 22 in the League with a record of 36-31-3-2.

When they were swept by the Seattle Thunderbirds in the first round of the playoffs, Mark Holick was sent packing after 3 ½ seasons behind the bench.

So, why the optimism? Is this season’s team really going to be any different than prior years?

All teams sit 0-0 and most believe that progress is on the horizon, but for every team that climbs in the standings another one must fall.

The Cougars are of the opinion they have valid reasons to suggest they are headed upwards and ready to make noise in the playoffs. They include:

New coach Richard Matvichuk
. Yes he may not have experience behind a WHL bench, but he was a winner as a player (Stanley Cup ring with Dallas in 1999) and was a winner as a coach in the East Coast Hockey League with the Missouri Mavericks. The 43-year old Matvichuk was named both the ECHL Coach of the Year and the ECHL Executive of the Year in 2015-16.

Solid goaltending tandem. Both Ty Edmonds (20) and Nick McBride (19) are entering their 4th season in the league and should be highly motivated competing for playing time and looking to get the attention of pro scouts. The Cougars have never had so much wisdom in net from both of their guys.

Experience. Assuming the six P.G. players away at NHL camps return, the Cougars will no longer be a youthful team. More than half their roster will likely be 19 or older.

Forwards such as 40-goal man Jesse Gabrielle (Boston Bruins 4th round), Jansen Harkins (Winnipeg Jets 2nd round), Brad Morrison (New York Rangers 4th round) and Brogan O’Brien will carry the load. Morrison and O’Brien are the only two Prince George products on the team.

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Defencemen Sam Ruopp (Columbus Blue Jackets 5th round), Tate Olson (Vancouver Canucks 7th round), Josh Anderson (Colorado Avalanche 3rd round) and Shane Collins will anchor the blue-line.

Note: A possibility remains that Ruopp won’t be back in P.G. and will play in the Blue Jackets organization as a 20-year-old.

Intangibles such as health, special teams and production from import players are always a factor for any team to have success.

Will this be the Cougars year?

Nobody with any certainty has the answer but we should be in for a fun journey to find out.

My pick: 4th place in the Western Conference.


From the Quote Rack:

Philadelphia coaches are having to remind QB Carson Wentz to stay out of harm’s way. Carson immediately made a vow to stay away from Santa Claus at Eagles home games.

Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California

Washington CB Josh Norman was upset after being drug tested following the 27-23 loss to Dallas. He has a point; who would ever think based on the Redskins’ play that they use PEDs?

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Comedy writer Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com

Mel Gibson is going to be a father for the 9th time. The NBA has just made him an honorary member. He says he would love to come out to a game and throw out the first pitch or drop the puck.

Comedy writer TC Chong of Vancouver http://alwaysfunny.com/

And in case you missed it:

Paddy Sharky is the men’s winner of the World Gravy Wrestling Championships. I imagine when fighting in gravy you have to take your lumps.

Comedy writer RJ Currie www.Sportsdeke.com

Hartley Miller is the sports director and morning news anchor for 94.3 the Goat. He also is the 94.3 radio color commentator for P.G. Cougars home games.

His column appears Fridays on myprincegeorgenow.com. Send along a quote, note, or anecdote to [email protected]

Follow him on twitter: @Hartley_Miller

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