The Prince George Cougars jumped out to a 2-0 lead just 3 1/2 minutes into the game and they went on for a 4-2 victory over the Kamloops Blazers. Zach Pochiro and Chase Witala both notched a goal and an assist for the hometown Cougars who outshot the Blazers 44-30 before 2,774 fans. Colby McAuley and Brad Morrison also tallied for Prince George. The two teams meet again Friday at CN Centre and Saturday in Kamloops to conclude the regular season.
–The (30-35-2-3) PG Cougars are on the verge of nailing down their first playoff spot in four years. The Cats are 3rd in the BC Division and 7th in the Western Conference, four points ahead of both Kamloops and the Tri-City Americans. The Cougars can finish no worse than a tie-breaker and can officially clinch a post-season berth with just one point in their last two games. (The Americans host Portland Friday, host Spokane Saturday and visit Portland Sunday)
–In the BCHL, the Vernon Vipers dumped the Penticton Vees 5-2 to tie the best of 7 Interior Division final 2-2.
–The major midget Cariboo Cougars will host the Vancouver Northeast Chiefs in the best of three BCMML playoff final at Kin 1. Games are scheduled for Friday at 5 p.m. Saturday at 1:30 p.m. and Sunday, if needed, at 10 a.m.
–The Prince George based Northern Cougars host the Fraser Valley Phantom in the B.C. Female Midget Triple A Hockey League final. The best of three series at the Kin Centre will be played Saturday at 8:45 a.m. & 5 p.m. & Sunday, if needed at 11:45 a.m.
–Host Prince George lost 8-2 to Port Moody to finish 0-3 at the Provincial Peewee Tier 2 minor hockey championship at Kin 1. The final was won by Cranbrook 8-5 over the Burnaby Winter Club. (Earlier results: PG lost 1-0 to Fort St John and 14-3 to Cranbrook)
–Five other Prince George minor hockey rep teams took to the ice at Provincials around the province. (P.G. finished 4-2 and in 3rd place at the Midget Tier 1. PG ended up 0-4-1 at the Bantam Tier 1, 1-2 at Bantam Tier 2 and 0-5 at the Peewee Tier 1 and at the Peewee Female. Details are below)
–P.G. Coast Inn ended up 4-2 and in third place after a 4-0 win over Nanaimo at the 7-team Midget Tier 1 in Comox Valley. (Earlier results: PG lost 4-0 to Kelowna, PG beat North Vancouver 5-0, Comox Valley 8-0 and Northeast 11-3 after an opening day 3-0 loss to Seafair)
–P.G. finished 0-4-1 at the Bantam Tier 1 in Rutland following a 4-3 loss to Kelowna. (Earlier results: Prince George tied Kamloops 1-1 and P.G. lost 7-0 to the Burnaby Winter Club, 7-2 to the North Shore Winter Club and 3-0 to Victoria).
–P.G. finished 1-2 and out of the playoffs at the Bantam Tier 2 in Cranbrook following a 5-3 victory over Greater Trail. (Earlier results: P.G. lost 10-1 to Vancouver and 9-3 to Campbell River). In the same Provincial Bantam Tier 2 tournament, Vanderhoof ended up with a 1-2-1 record.
–P.G. ended up 0-5 at the Peewee Tier 1 in South Surrey after a 3-1 loss to Semiahmoo. (Earlier results: PG lost 5-1 to North Shore, 5-1 to Kelowna, 8-0 to the Burnaby Winter Club and 4-2 to Juan De Fuca)
–P.G. Ended up 0-5 at the six team Peewee Female in West Vancouver after an 8-1 loss to Tri Cities in its final game. (Earlier results: P.G. Lost 4-3 to South Island, 9-1 to Kelowna, 7-3 to North Shore and 7-1 to Abbotsford)
–Meryeta O’Dine of Prince George was 10th overall and the third best Canadian at the FIS World Junior Snowboard Cross Championships in Yabuli, China. O’Dine also combined with Haili Moyer of King City, Ontario for a 7th place finish in the women’s team snowboard.
Photo: Courtesy of the Prince George Cougars