(As of 12:01AM)
PRINCE GEORGE COUGARS:
The Prince George Cougars face the Rockets for the fourth time this season when the two teams face off tonight in Kelowna.
The Rockets won the first three meetings, two of them in overtime.
The 9-12-2-2 Cougars also host the Vancouver Giants Friday and Saturday.
Prince George is tied with the Kamloops Blazers for last place in the BC Division, four points behind Vancouver and nine back of Kelowna.
###
Prince George Cougars forward Vladislav Mikhalchuk will represent his country at the 2018 World Junior Championship that begins Boxing Day in Buffalo.
The 18-year-old has been selected to play for Team Belarus in the 10-team tournament.
He sits fifth in Cougars scoring with 15 points (seven goals) in 23 games.
WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE:
Vancouver 4 Seattle 3 (OT)
Tyler Benson scored at 3:33 of overtime.
Moose Jaw 7 Victoria 4
Ex-PG Cougar Justin Almeida was the 1st star for Moose Jaw with three goals and an assist.
BC DIVISION STANDINGS:
Victoria, 28 games = 18-9-1 (37 points)
Kelowna, 25 games = 14-8-2-1 (31 points)
Vancouver, 27 games = 11-12-2-2 (26 points)
Kamloops, 24 games = 11-13 (22 points)
Prince George, 25 games = 9-12-2-2 (22 points)
WESTERN CONFERENCE WILD CARD:
Everett, 27 games = 13-12-1-1 (28 points)
Seattle, 25 games = 11-11-2-1 (25 points)
Kamloops, 24 games = 11-13 (22 points)
Prince George, 25 games = 9-12-2-2 (22 points)
PRINCE GEORGE SPRUCE KINGS:
The Prince George Spruce Kings are 3-1 on an eight-game home-stand.
The 14-10-2-3 Spruce Kings host the Victoria Grizzlies Friday and the Salmon Arm Silverbacks Saturday.
PG is second in the Mainland Division, a point ahead of Surrey and two in front of Chilliwack.
BCHL:
MAINLAND DIVISION STANDINGS:
Langley, 29 games = 15-5-9 (39 points)
Prince George, 29 games = 14-10-2-3 (33 points)
Surrey, 29 games = 14-12-2-1 (31 points)
Chilliwack, 30 games = 13-13-2-2 (30 points)
Coquitlam, 26 games = 3-21-1-1 (8 points)
CARIBOO COUGARS:
The Cariboo Cougars host the 8-8-1-1 Okanagan Rockets Saturday at 4PM and Sunday at 10AM at Kin 1.
The Saturday game will be the Eighth Annual Jameson Jones Night in support of the BC Children’s Hospital.
The 14-3-1 Cougars are 2nd in the BCMML, two points behind the 15-2-1 Valley West Hawks.
NHL:
New York Islanders 5 Vancouver 2
3rd consecutive loss, all to New York area teams, for the 11-10-4 Canucks, who conclude a six-game road trip
Thursday in Nashville. The Islanders are 8-0-2 this season on home ice.
Toronto 4 Calgary 1
Edmonton 3 Arizona 2 (OT)
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins scored at 4:20 of overtime.
UNBC TIMBERWOLVES:
The UNBC Timberwolves visit the TRU Wolfpack Friday and Saturday in Kamloops in their final Canada West basketball games prior to the Christmas break.
The UNBC men are 10th (out of 17) with a 4-6 record while the Lady Timberwolves are 14th at 3-7.
TRU is 3-7 (men) and 6-4 (women).
The top 12 teams qualify for the playoffs.
HIGH SCHOOL VOLLEYBALL:
The Duchess Park Condors are seeded second and College Heights Cougars eighth in the 16-team provincial boys AA volleyball championship in Langley.
Play begins today and runs until Saturday,
###
College Heights, seeded sixth, and host Nechako Valley, seeded 15th, compete at the BC Girls AA Volleyball Championship in Vanderhoof.
Round robin play begins Thursday morning at 10:30 with the gold medal match Saturday night at 6:30.
NFL:
The New York Giants are sending Eli Manning to the bench, ending his streak of 210 consecutive starts, the second most among quarterbacks in NFL history.
The 2-9 Giants will start Geno Smith in Sunday’s game against the Raiders in Oakland.
NBA:
Cleveland 108 Miami 97
For the first time in his 15-year career, Lebron James was ejected. He was tossed late in the third quarter but the 14-7 Cavaliers still won their 9th in a row.
The 12-7 Toronto Raptors host the 8-11 Charlotte Hornets tonight.