The Prince George Cougars club record 6-0 start has created elation around the team and the city, but are these Cats for real?
The Cougars have surged to the top of the CHL rankings for the first time after winning all six in regulation time and outscoring their opponent 24-10.
Five of their victories came against the top two teams from the BC Division last season (Victoria and Kelowna).
In addition, the P.G. penalty kill is 30-for-31 (96.8 %) and they accomplished all of this without arguably its two best skaters, Jesse Gabrielle and Jansen Harkins, who return to the line-up this weekend against the Vancouver Giants after attending NHL camps.
On the cautious side, this is a very small sample with only 1/12 of their regular season complete. It is too early to draw any conclusions.
How is the Cougars performance looked at around the B.C. Division?
I asked the five play-by-play announcers and the well-respected dean of WHL writers Gregg Drinnan of Kamloops for their opinion via email.
The questions are:
Do you believe the P.G. Cougars are for real?
What are your reasons?
Following this early sampling, where do you believe the Cougars will finish in the BC Division and the Western Conference?
Here are the responses received starting with Drinnan.
Yes, I believe they are for real.
Based on experience in goal, McBride and Edmonds both are competent WHL goaltenders, and experience on the back end, I expect the Cougars to contend for top spot in the B.C. Division.
The Cougars will score enough goals, that much is certain. But with the way teams play “systems” these days — yes, they are over-coached — you win and lose in your own zone.
The Cougars will be better in their zone than they have been and that will keep them near the top of the division.
I expect the Cougars to be first or second in the B.C. Division and in the top three, maybe even the top two of the Western Conference.
The Victoria Royals will be right there. . . . The Seattle Thunderbirds will be, too, but only if they get Mathew Barzal back from the Islanders.
Seattle also is without Keegan Kolesar, who is with the Columbus Blue Jackets but has undergone surgery for a supraumbilical hernia and won’t play until perhaps mid-November. So the Thunderbirds, if they get Barzal back, could put on a late rush.
The big question, as always with top teams, involves health.
The regular season is a grind and the Cougars have worn down in seasons past due in no small part to travel.
There are going to be bumps and bruises, but they have to avoid major injuries to key performers.
If that happens, they’ll be at or near the top at the end.
Gregg Drinnan
Taking Note (gdrinnan.blogspot.ca)
Regan Bartel is the play-by play voice of the Kelowna Rockets and has already seen the Cougars three times.
Here are his thoughts:
I believe they are (for real). It has to do with a new voice behind the bench.
Essentially the same roster is intact from a year ago, yet this team is competing harder and smarter than the regime under Mark Holick.
I believe street cred, or in this case hockey cred, with Richard Matvichuk’s proven track record is a factor. Play smart, disciplined hockey and protect the house (goal).
The Cougars could score last year but couldn’t defend.
A season later under Matvichuk, look at the single greatest improvement in the team’s overall play.
Let’s not forget the Cougars were an impressive 20-12-0-0 in the first 32 games last season before struggling in the second half.
Can they win the division with this current line up? Absolutely!
If the trust is in the coach (which I believe it is) and the belief is in the dressing room that this is indeed a special group, the Cougars can raise the first banner at seasons end to the rafters at CN Centre.
Who can beat them for the BC Division title? Only themselves.
Cheers
Regan
Marlon Martens handles the play by play for the Victoria Royals. He has seen the Cougars twice this season and offers the following observations.
They are definitely in the conversation. Yes it’s still early, and the players are looking to impress a new head coach, however they are an older group that has been building for this season.
They have a solid tandem between the pipes with veterans Ty Edmonds and Nick McBride.
Getting Sam Ruopp back bolsters an experienced back end along with Tate Olson, and a healthy Josh Anderson will pay dividends. The emergence of Max Martin and Joel Lakusta provide depth.
Up front is an experienced group with 40 goal man Jesse Gabrielle returning, along with Jansen Harkins and Brad Morrison all providing scoring. Jared Bethune looks like he is coming into his own while Justin Almeida is ready for a bigger role in his second season.
If the Cougars are still rolling like this in mid-November they could finish at the top of the Division. It’s still early to really tell, and this looks to be the toughest division to be in. As for the Western Conference, they could be near the top.
While the dust still hasn’t settled on the start of this season and the win-loss correction hasn’t taken place, one could argue for Spokane, Seattle, Victoria, Kelowna…
Marlon (thezone.fm)
Dapper Dan O’Connor is in his 6th season calling games for the Cougars and has never been more excited. Considering his position with the team, he feels it is best for him not to get into the prediction game but he had this to say.
I believe the Cougars are for real because:
# Experience: A veteran-laden team that has the depth and experience needed to withstand the grind of a lengthy season.
# New Coach: Richard Matvichuk is pushing all of the right buttons in the early stages and the team is responding. To go 6-0 with their travel and without the likes of Harkins and Gabrielle is very impressive, no matter what time of year it is.
#Right mix of youth: Almeida, Martin, McDonald, Anderson, Khomenko etc. are all making a big impact.
You win with 19’S AND 20’s but you don’t win championships without depth and contributions from the younger age groups on the team.
Dan O’Connor
Manager, Broadcasting / Media & Community Relations / Team Services
Prince George Cougars Hockey Club
Jon Keen, the voice of the Kamloops Blazers, and Brendan Batchelor, who calls games for the Vancouver Giants, replied to the email and politely stated they would rather not comment on the Cougars.
This much we know. There are 66 regular season games remaining, plus playoffs, to see how real the Cougars are.
It should be an entertaining journey.
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Hartley Miller is the sports director and morning news anchor for 94.3 the Goat. He also is the 94.3
radio color commentator for P.G. Cougars home games.
His column appears Fridays on myprincegeorgenow.com. Send along a quote, note, or anecdote to [email protected]
Follow him on twitter: @Hartley_Miller
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