The Kamloops Blazers snapped a 3-3 tie with two late goals in the second period and added two insurance markers in the third for a 7-4 victory over the Prince George Cougars. Ex-Cougar Marc McNulty was named the first star with a goal and an assist for the Blazers, who outshot the Cats 46-36. There were three fights in the heated game before 3,727 fans in Kamloops. The Cougars struggled on the power play going 0-for-6 while the Blazers were 1-for-2 with the man advantage.
–With five games to play, the (28-34-2-3) P.G. Cougars are 3rd in the BC Division, but just two points ahead of the (26-34-4-3) Blazers. Kamloops is tied with Tri-City for the 2nd and final wild card spot in the Western Conference.
–The Cougars visit (28-35-0-3) Tri-City Friday and (40-20-2-3) Portland Saturday before concluding with three games against the Blazers: Wednesday, March 18th and Friday the 20th at CN Centre and Saturday the 21st in Kamloops. The Blazers have a home and home against the Kelowna Rockets this Friday and Saturday.
–The BCHL Mainland Division final opens in Chilliwack Friday and Saturday before the best of seven series shifts to Prince George Monday and Tuesday. If necessary games are scheduled for Friday, March 20th in Chilliwack, Saturday the 21st in PG and Sunday the 22nd in Chilliwack. In the regular season, the Chiefs won six of the eight games against the Spruce Kings, two of them in overtime.
–The Nanaimo Clippers beat the Alberni Valley Bulldogs 3-1 in the 7th and deciding game of their BCHL first round series. Nanaimo will host the Powell River Kings Friday in game one of the Island Division final. The best of 7 Interior final begins Saturday with Vernon at Penticton.
–The Cariboo Cougars host the South Island Royals at Kin 1 in the best of three BCMML semi-final series. Games are slated for Friday at 5pm, Saturday at 1pm & Sunday, if needed, at 8:15am.
–Half a dozen Prince George minor hockey rep teams compete at the Provincials that begin Sunday. The BC Peewee Tier 2 tournament will be played in Prince George at Kin 1 starting Monday.
–Kelowna whipped the PGSS Polars 109-68 on the opening day of the Provincial Boys Quad A basketball championship in Langley. PGSS also took it on the chin on the consolation side today (Thursday) in the 16 team tournament as Walnut Grove crushed the Polars 97-54.
–The Nechako Valley Vikings are 0-2 at the BC Boys Double A basketball championship in Langley. The Vikings lost 88-69 to Southridge (Wednesday) and 81-54 to Lambrick Park today.
–The three Judo Clubs in Prince George will be represented at an international meet Saturday in Edmonton.
–Summit Insurance won the PG Masters Ball Hockey playoff championship following a 5-3 victory over Cap-abilities to take the best of five final 3-0.
(Photo courtesy BlazerHockey.com).