Sports by Hartley Miller as of 12:05 a.m. Saturday, January 22nd
WHL:
Kamloops Blazers 5 Prince George Cougars 1
The Blazers built up period leads of 2-0 and 4-1 as they ended the Cougars four-game win streak before 1,847 fans at CN Centre.
The box score is right here.
Luke Toporowski, in his first game in a Kamloops uniform, scored twice and added an assist while his linemate, Logan Stankoven, notched a goal and two helpers.
?HIGHLIGHT OF THE NIGHT?
Luke Toporowski giving us a little razzle-dazzle in his Blazer debut!@blazerhockey | #WHLHoN pic.twitter.com/r5p6TO16s7
— The WHL (@TheWHL) January 22, 2022
The only Prince George goal came from Caden Brown.
Tyler Brennan took the loss with 48 saves as the Blazers outshot the Cats 53-32.
The teams complete a home-and-home tonight in Kamloops.
The (17-18-1-1) Cougars are 3rd in the B.C. Division and 6th in the Western Conference, two points ahead of the (16-17-2) Vancouver Giants.
The (23-11-1) Blazers have the second-best record in the Conference, behind the (26-7-2-2) Everett Silvertips.
The WHL standings are right here.
The PG Cougars regular season schedule is right here.
Cat Scan podcast:
CAT SCAN: @Hartley_Miller sits down with Lynne Van Roode, the WHL Off-Ice Officials Volunteer Co-ordinator (Prince George) in this week’s episode | #cityofpg https://t.co/v88bFDDRza #princegeorgebc #northernbc #sports pic.twitter.com/egd1J6mU6p
— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) January 20, 2022
Column:
HART ATTACK: @Hartley_Miller talks the 2nd half of @TheWHL schedule for the @PGCougars in his latest column | https://t.co/2WgrN61T4I #cityofpg #PrinceGeorge #northernbc #sports pic.twitter.com/GN4mKL0gVB
— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) January 21, 2022
BCHL:
Trail Smoke Eaters 5 Prince George Spruce Kings 4 (SO)
The (18-9-2-2) Spruce Kings had their four game win streak snapped.
The (14-13-1-1) Smoke Eaters erased a 4-2 deficit after two periods by scoring a pair of goals in the third.
It was another multi-point night from Nick Rhéaume, collecting two goals and an assist, but it was not enough as the Spruce Kings get edged 5-4 in a shootout in Trail.
? @garrettjames22 #TrueBlue • #Spruce50 pic.twitter.com/ZwGkfXJgB3
— Prince George Spruce Kings (@SpruceKings) January 22, 2022
The same teams meet again tonight and Sunday night in Trail.
The Spruce Kings regular season schedule is right here.
The BCHL standings are right here.
BC Elite Hockey League: (AAA)
The U-18 Cariboo Cougars and the female Northern Capitals play league games this weekend in Fort St James.
The (11-10-1-2) Cougars host the (12-8-3-1) Fraser Valley Thunderbirds tonight at 6:30 outdoors at the Ernie Sam Memorial Arena.
The two teams also face off Sunday afternoon at 12:30 indoors at the Fort Forum.
The Capitals entertain the Fraser Valley Rush this afternoon at 1:00 in Vanderhoof and Sunday morning at 10 outdoors in Fort St James.
Final preparations being made for BC Winter Classic weekend @cariboocougars @NCapitalsfmaaa @FVTBirdsU18, @RushFMAAA | #cityofpg https://t.co/fb07DjY1fh #princegeorgebc #northernbc #Vanderhoof #FortSaintJames pic.twitter.com/31rQMUXAP6
— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) January 21, 2022
The U-18 Cariboo Cougars schedule is right here.
The Northern Capitals schedule is right here.
NHL: (8 Friday games)
Florida 2 Vancouver 1 (SO)
Journeyman goalie Spencer Martin may have suffered a 2-1 shootout loss to the Florida Panthers on Friday, but you won’t find the short-handed Vancouver Canucks complaining. After all, it was Martin’s first NHL start in five years. (@imacSportsnet)https://t.co/BSkM4XsKYY
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 22, 2022
The (18-18-4) Canucks host the St. Louis Blues Sunday night at 7:00.
The Canucks are 10-3-2 since Bruce Boudreau took over as coach.
Jonathan Huberdeau collected his NHL-leading 40th assist of the season (15-40—55 in 41 GP) as the @FlaPanthers earned a victory Friday.#NHLStats: https://t.co/nfGsFO5jQK pic.twitter.com/Caq2yzFVl8
— NHL Public Relations (@PR_NHL) January 22, 2022
New York Islanders legend and Hockey Hall of Famer Clark Gillies has died at 67, the team announced Friday.https://t.co/QKnm8ukN2V
— Sportsnet (@Sportsnet) January 22, 2022
Canada West basketball:
(Men)
UNBC Timberwolves 79 UBC Okanagan Heat 77
RECAP: One of the wildest finishes you’ll ever see. @UNBCBasketball scores 12 straight to finish the game, and edges the @UBCOHeat 79-77.
Read all about it: https://t.co/p95HeNNJS6 pic.twitter.com/6GtVewd9lC— UNBC Athletics (@UNBCATHLETICS) January 22, 2022
(Women)
UBC Okanagan Heat 82 UNBC Timberwolves 65
RECAP: @UNBCWomensBball will look to rebound tomorrow, after a tough result in Kelowna on Friday against the @UBCOHeat.https://t.co/j2dFtVqkYt pic.twitter.com/iskmp5EUWE
— UNBC Athletics (@UNBCATHLETICS) January 22, 2022
The same teams meet again today in Kelowna starting with the women at 4:00 followed by the men at 6:00.
The UNBC women are 4-6 on the season while UBC Okanagan women are 6-6.
The UNBC men are 3-7 while the UBC Okanagan men are 1-8.
The UNBC women’s basketball schedule is right here while UNBC men’s basketball schedule is right here.
NFL:
The NFL Conference semifinals kick off today with Cincinnati at Tennessee (1:30 PT) followed by San Francisco at Green Bay (5:15).
On Sunday, the LA Rams visit Tampa Bay (noon) and Buffalo is at Kansas City (3:30).
Home teams are favored by less than a converted touchdown in each game.