With the Prince George Cougars acquiring 18-year-old goalie Nick McBride from the Prince Albert Raiders for a 2nd round pick in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft, it’s only logical to assume that 20-year-old net-minder Mack Shields will be the odd man out.
For the short term, the Cougars will carry three goalies (McBride will not join the team until Monday), but it won’t be long before they are down to two.
McBride was the third wheel in Prince Albert, losing out to Rylan Parenteau (19) and Ian Scott (16), despite appearing in 64 regular season games over two seasons with the Raiders.
He left P.A. over a month ago (Oct 1st) awaiting a trade and a fresh start, and it appears he will get one in Prince George.
The 6’3”, 185 pound undrafted McBride, from Maple Ridge, has satisfactory stats (25-25-1-2 record, 3.22 GAA and .900 save percentage) especially considering he posted them as a 16 and 17 year-old on a non playoff team.
Because of his age and experience and the fact the Cats gave up a high pick for him, it only makes sense that McBride, the WHL’s scholastic player of the year in 2014-15, has been brought to the Cougars den to play.
Ironically, goaltending has been a strength for the Cougars in their 8-6 start but someone has to leave.
Ty Edmonds has been superb. The 19-year-old Edmonds, in his third season with the team, has the third best save percentage in the League (0.936) and the 7th best goals against average (2.13) to go along with one shutout and a 5-4 record.
Edmonds is the team’s number one stopper and there is no reason to believe that won’t continue. He is scheduled to get the start tonight (Friday) in Everett.
This leaves Shields who has competed admirably despite mediocre numbers (3.17 GAA, .883 save percentage, 3-2 record and one shutout).
Shields came to Prince George in August after he was obtained on waivers following his release from the Calgary Hitmen.
His personality blended well with other players on the team and by all accounts got along very well with Edmonds, however, the Cougars can strengthen another position should they replace Shields with another 20-year-old.
Although the Cougars have not announced any plans for Shields, (who will back-up Edmonds this evening) age and circumstance strongly suggests that his stay in Prince George will be a short one.
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Defenceman Brandon Manning of Prince George made the highlight T.V. package while playing for the Philadelphia Flyers in a 4-2 loss Tuesday to the Edmonton Oilers.
Unfortunately for Manning it wasn’t because of a goal or an assist.
The 25 year-old former Cariboo Cougar and Spruce King was just doing his job on a hockey play late in the second period that resulted in a broken clavicle to the game’s brightest rising star Connor McDavid.
The NHL rookie of the month for October will be sidelined for months, which likely means the Oilers will again miss the playoffs come April, 2016.
Few players ever entering the league have created this much hoopla and to his credit, McDavid was living up to the hype with 12 points (5 goals, 7 assists) in 13 games.
“He was becoming a leader in our locker room,” stated Oilers winger Taylor Hall to the media.
During the second period against the Flyers, McDavid got tangled up with Manning and another Philly defenceman, Michael Del Zotto.
All three crashed into the boards behind the Flyers net. McDavid fell awkwardly after losing his edge off the rush.
Oilers coach Todd McLellan correctly called the incident a “hockey play,” realizing there was no intent on the part of Manning or Del Zotto.
Being on the sidelines is nothing new to McDavid, who missed five weeks last season with the OHL’s Erie Otters following a November 11th fight that left him with a broken bone in his right hand. Two seasons ago, he fractured his left thumb.
Yes, injuries of all sorts are part of the game but when a high profile player like McDavid is forced to sit, fans lose out because he brings an element of excitement with a special eye-popping talent that nearly all other players could only wish for.
Getting back to Manning, he continues in his quest to become a regular on the Flyers blue-line.
Philadelphia has yielded 39 goals in 13 games, a pace of three a game that will not get them into the playoffs.
Manning has played in 10 games. He is a minus three with eight penalty minutes while still looking for his first point.
Against the Flames in the 2-1 Thursday overtime loss, Manning had 15:17 of ice time, the fewest minutes of the six Philadelphia blue-liners.
Overall, in a 30-game NHL career, Manning has five points to go along with a plus four rating and 11 penalty minutes.
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While the Vancouver Canucks have struggled on home ice going 2-3-3, they have started the season far more relaxed and effective away sporting a 4-0-1 mark.
Vancouver is the only NHL team that has not lost in regulation while on the road.
The Canucks are gearing up for their longest trip of the season, 7 games.
The journey is spread out over 12 days. Vancouver will face four teams that currently are not sitting in a playoff spot.
The trip begins Saturday (10 a.m. Pacific) in Buffalo and continues Sunday in New Jersey.
The Canucks will run into John Tortorella Tuesday in Columbus before going to Ottawa Thursday.
Vancouver also meets Toronto on Saturday the 14th, Montreal on the 16th and Winnipeg on the 18th.
The Eastern trip is much more manageable than previous years since they only have one back to back and that is at the beginning.
Having an off day between most of the games should allow goalie Ryan Miller to continue to see the bulk of the action.
The 35-year-old Miller has turned the clock back while enjoying a bounce back season.
He leads the NHL in games played with 12 and is also ranked in the top 15 in both GAA (2.14) and save percentage (.923).
From the Quote Rack:
Tim Tebow went as a SWAT officer for Halloween. Good thing it’s just a costume: with Tebow’s reputation for accuracy this is one guy you probably don’t ever want to see in a job needing a gun.
The San Francisco 49ers are benching QB Colin Kaepernick for Blaine Gabbert. Which is the NFL equivalent of rearranging desk chairs on the Titanic?
Contributor Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com
Vernon Davis was traded by the 49ers to the Broncos. That must be like going from being dumped by Lindsay Lohan and rebounding with Jennifer Lawrence.
The Washington Nationals plan on keeping Jonathan Papelbon. Looks like Dusty Baker is dealing with yet another choke job.
Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California
Kirk Gibson has interviewed for the LA Dodgers managerial position. I can’t believe what I just wrote!
LeBron James didn’t like the sleeved uniforms they wore Wednesday, so he ripped the sleeves off. Been there, dundat, said Bill Belichick.
Comedy writer TC Chong of Vancouver http://alwaysfunny.com/
A Bostonian is selling bundles of New England leaves in fall colors for $19.99. In Canada it’s cheaper: we turn on the TV each April to see the falling Leafs of Toronto.
Canadian short-track veteran Oliver Jean said the switch to long-track speed skating has been extremely challenging. Well, that’s the long and short of it.
Comedy writer RJ Currie www.Sportsdeke.com
And in case you missed it:
This Halloween, a kid came to our door dressed as Mets player, Daniel Murphy. At first he was a big hit, but then he kept dropping his candy.
Comedy writer Alex Kaseberg
Hartley Miller is the sports director and morning news anchor for 94.3 the Goat. His column appears Fridays on myprincegeorgenow.com. Send along a quote, note, or anecdote to [email protected]
Follow him on twitter: @Hartley_Miller