The Kelowna Rockets scored three straight goals in the final 12 minutes of the game to beat the Prince George Cougars 5-2. The power play was a difference with Kelowna 3/9 and P.G. just 1/6. Chase Witala notched his team leading 27th goal and added an assist for the 21-32-2-1 Cougars, who are in the basement of the BC Division and the Western Conference. Prince George is two points behind the Vancouver Giants and three points back of the Kamloops Blazers. The Blazers, who hold down the final playoff spot, blanked Tri-City 3-0 while the Giants also won on home ice 5-4 over Seattle. The Cougars, with just 16 games left, visit Calgary Wednesday, Medicine Hat Friday, Red Deer Saturday and Edmonton Monday (Feb 16) before hosting Moose Jaw Saturday, February 21st.
–The Prince George Spruce Kings have won three straight after a pair of home wins over Coquitlam (6-4 and 7-5). With eight regular season games left, the 25-20-0-5 Spruce Kings are four points behind 2nd place Langley and nine behind Mainland Division leading Chilliwack. The Spruce Kings visit Langley Thursday, Cowichan Friday and Victoria Saturday. Next home games at the Coliseum will be Feb 27 and 28 against Langley.
–The Major Midget leading Cariboo Cougars are 10 points ahead of the second place Vancouver North West Giants after a split against the Fraser Valley Thunderbirds in Abbotsford. Cariboo took the opener 4-2 before Fraser Valley came back with a 7-6 victory. The 28-7-1 Cougars visit the 22-8-3 NW Giants Saturday and Sunday.
–The Northland Dodge Northern Cougars Female Major Midget hockey team tied for third place out of eight with a record of one win, one loss and three ties at the Fraser Valley Phantom Tournament. Teams from BC, Alberta, and California competed. The Cougars, who get a first round bye, start the playoffs the March 13th weekend at home.
On the March 6th weekend, the Northern Cougars host the Banff Female Midget Hockey Academy team for three exhibition games.
–The UNBC Timberwolves men’s basketball team has clinched its first ever Canada West playoff spot. The UNBC men are tied with TRU for 2nd in the Explorer Division with a 10-8 record behind 16-2 Fraser Valley. The Timberwolves beat the Fraser Valley men 69-57 to get a split of the doubleheader before 900 fans. The regular season concludes this week with UNBC at UBCO in Kelowna Thursday and Friday. The UBCO men are last at 3-15.
–The UNBC women’s basketball team, riding a four game losing skid, is 2-16 with two games left. The Lady Timberwolves visit UBCO Thursday and Friday to concludes their season. The UBCO women are 4-14 and have lost six straight.
–The Prince George High School Basketball City Finals tip off Tuesday (Feb 10) at Duchess Park. The girls game at 6pm features #1 Duchess Park against College Heights. The boys championship game follows at 8 with Duchess taking on PGSS.
–College Heights beat Duchess Park in the final of both the Junior Boys and Junior Girls north central zone basketball championships to qualify for the Provincials.
–The Hart Judo Academy earned three gold, two silver and four bronze from its nine athletes at the Youth Provincial Championships in Langley.
Gold Medalists
Kimiko Kamstra U16 -44 kgs
Grace Northrop U18 -52 kgs
Lavanna Laass U21 -63 kgs
Silver Medalists
Isaac Kamstra U14 -36 kgs
Lorna Jane Simmons U16 -57 kgs
Bronze Medalists
Hamish Lamoureux U14 Novice Boys
Elizabeth Simmons U12 -34 kgs
Christopher Cormack U14 -55 kgs
Kurtis Cormack U16 -60 kgs
–The Young brothers each earned a medal for the North Capital Judo Club at the Youth Provincials. Locklan Young picked up a silver while Asher and Maxwell Young ended up with bronze.
–Judo will be featured at the Canada Winter Games. Lavanna Laass and Grace Northrop will be competing on February 25 at the Northern Sports Center. Kristen Yawney of the Prince George Judo Club will participate on February 26. The team competition is on February 28.
–Prince George Gymnasts competed at the Quesnel Gold Pan Invitational. The top P.G. finisher in each category is listed below:
Level One (9 years and younger)
Gyongyi Kiraly – 3rd All Around
Level One ( 10 years and over)
Aiden Guignard-Adanic – 2nd All Around
Level 2
Kaylie Owston – 1st All Around
Level 3 (11 years and younger)
Katrina Chunihina – 2nd All Around
Level 3 (12 years and over)
Paige Bryant – 1st All Around
Level 4
Kaylee Oberg – 1st All Around
Level 6 (11 years and younger)
Sydney Hamilton – 1st All Around
Level 6 (12 years and over)
Dallyn Long – 4th All Around
Level 7
Jade Jacobs – 3rd All Around
–Eight Prince George gymnasts also competed at the Aaron Johnson Memorial Cup in Burnaby. The best showing was from Brook-Lynn Kinnee (Level three 15+) who finished 1st in double mini and 5th on Trampoline.