If one really thinks about it, the Prince George Cougars start to the 2015-16 regular season is a continuation from the last several weeks of the 2014-15 regular season.
The 18-9-1-1 Cougars are surging with the 3rd best record in the WHL Western Conference.
They are nine games above .500 at the 29-game mark for the first time in 14 years.
In addition, going back to the start of February, 2015, the Cats have a record of 29-14-4-1 over a 48 game period as they climbed into the 2015 playoffs thanks to an 11-5-3 run down the stretch.
The Cougars are transitioning from a lower middle of the pack team, just trying to get into the playoffs, to an upper middle team.
The ultimate goal is to take another step to become an elite team.
There are several areas of improvement with arguably the biggest one being a strong mental approach to each game.
The Cougars are at a point where they are not just hoping to win, but are expecting to win each time out regardless of the strength of the opponent or where the game is being played.
All teams strive for consistency and the Cougars are in a stretch where they have many aspects of their game at peak efficiency.
Ty Edmonds, last week’s Vaughn CHL goalie of the week (3-0, 0.77 GAA and .973 save percentage), has an off the charts .937 save percentage, best in the WHL.
His 1.98 goals-against-average is second only to Carter Hart of Everett, who is only slightly better with a 1.93 GAA.
Edmonds is playing like an all-star who has given up far less “soft” goals this season compared to the same time over the past couple of years.
On the blue line, captain Sam Ruopp and Tate Olson are one-two on the team in plus-minus (plus 14 and plus 12 respectively) while bringing their well-rounded game to another level.
Up front, three lines are scoring and a 4th is contributing.
Streaky Chase Witala, who is coming off back-to-back hat tricks, leads in goals with 17, while the team’s most consistent skater Jesse Gabriele is averaging a point a game with 16 goals, five of them shorthanded, and 13 assists.
Forwards like Jared Bethune (+10), Colby McAuley (+10) and Kody McDonald (+9) have all improved immensely while providing a strong physical presence.
Ex Spruce King Brogan O’Brien (20 points and +6) has adjusted well from Junior A to Major Junior and has found chemistry with Gabrielle and Witala.
Brad Morrison (22 points) and Jansen Harkins (21 points) are part of a well rounded scoring attack that doesn’t rely on one or two individuals.
The Cougars play tonight (Friday) and Saturday in Portland against the 14-14 Winterhawks and Tuesday in Seattle before returning home to face the CHL 9th ranked Victoria Royals on December 18th and 19th.
Prince George is just two points behind second place Victoria in the B.C. Division.
The Cougars have won their last four road games, six straight overall and are riding a nine game point streak (8-0-0-1).
Yes, winning builds confidence and with success comes fun.
The Cats are enjoying the ride but they still have 43 regular season games remaining and playoffs which will determine if indeed they have changed the culture on the ice and taken that much sought after major step forward.
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Last season, Dan Hamhuis missed 22 games with a knee injury.
This season, the 32-year-old from Smithers, arguably one of the top two defencemen on the Vancouver Canucks, is on the sidelines again.
It was a scary incident on Wednesday night as the Prince George Cougars minority owner took a Dan Boyle slapshot in the face during the Canucks 2-1 win over the New York Rangers.
Hamhuis suffered a broken jaw and lost some teeth and today had facial surgery.
He will be on the sidelines at least two months.
Hamhuis has had a stellar 12-year NHL career but now faces his biggest mental hurdle after suffering a second major injury in as many years.
While it would be natural to feel discouraged, Hamhuis appears to be one of those players that enjoys the game so much he will overcome all obstacles and return as strong as ever.
Hamhuis is in the final season of a six year, $27 million deal.
Undoubtedly, he will want to remain in his home province.
The Canucks should show their gratitude for his long time dependable service and ink him to a contract extension well before he becomes an unrestricted free in the summer of 2016.
From the Quote Rack:
The next “Star Wars” film takes place so far into the future that the Golden State Warriors have lost a game.
Brad Dickson of the Omaha World Herald
The halftime act for Super Bowl 50 will be Coldplay—shouldn’t they have been at the Super Bowl 48 halftime outdoors at the Meadowlands?
Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California
The Philadelphia Phillies have traded their closer, Ken Giles, to the Houston Astros. Well, at least this means Giles might actually start having some games to close.
Contributor Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com
Kobe has announced that he will retire after this season. I wonder how much collectors will pay for his last “air ball”.
Comedy writer TC Chong of Vancouver http://alwaysfunny.com/
The San Diego Padres have unveiled new uniforms for 2016. It won’t help; they’ll still be recognized.
Blogger Chad Picasner:
And in case you missed it:
Long-time Washington Huskies rowing coach Bob Ernst was fired after being given a choice: change your ways or lose your job. In rowing parlance: either-oar.
Comedy writer RJ Currie www.Sportsdeke.com
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