(As of 12:01AM)
PRINCE GEORGE COUGARS:
The 12-14-3-2 Prince George Cougars will have defenceman Dennis Cholowski back in their line-up for three weekend road games.
Cholowski was among the first six players cut by Hockey Canada from its World Junior Championship selection camp roster.
“It sucks. I did the best I could and fell a little short,” Cholowski told the media right after the decision was made.
The Cougars visit (13-14-3-1) Seattle tonight, (19-12-1-1) Everett Saturday, and (15-13-2-2) Vancouver Sunday in their final action prior to the Christmas break.
Prince George is last in the BC Division, two points behind Kamloops, and five back of Vancouver.
WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE:
Here’s tonight’s WHL menu:
Victoria at Vancouver
Kamloops at Moose Jaw
Kelowna at Prince Albert
BC DIVISION STANDINGS:
Victoria, 34 games = 20-11-3 (43 points)
Kelowna, 32 games = 18-11-2-1 (39 points)
Vancouver, 32 games = 15-13-2-2 (34 points)
Kamloops, 32 games = 15-16-0-1 (31 points)
Prince George, 31 games = 12-14-3-2 (29 points)
WESTERN CONFERENCE WILD CARD:
Spokane, 31 games = 16-12-1-2 (35 points)
Kamloops, 32 games = 15-16-0-1 (31 points)
Seattle, 31 games = 13-14-3-1 (30 points)
Prince George, 31 games = 12-14-3-2 (29 points)
PRINCE GEORGE SPRUCE KINGS:
Two Prince George Spruce Kings, forwards Ethan de Jong, and Kyle Johnson have helped Canada West reach the gold medal game at the World Junior A Challenge in Truro, Nova Scotia.
Both players picked up an assist in their 5-1 semi-final victory over the Czech Republic.
Canada West will play the defending champions from the United States in the championship game on Saturday (11 a.m. Pacific).
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The 18-10-2-3 Spruce Kings visit (6-23-1-2) Coquitlam tonight, (17-14-3-1) Victoria Saturday, and (5-22-3-2) Cowichan Sunday.
The Spruce Kings, who have won six in a row, are second in the Mainland Division, a point behind the Langley Rivermen, and Prince George has two games in hand.
BCHL:
MAINLAND DIVISION STANDINGS:
Langley, 35 games = 16-9-9-1 (42 points)
Prince George, 33 games = 18-10-2-3 (41 points)
Surrey, 34 games = 17-13-3-1 (38 points)
Chilliwack, 34 games = 16-14-2-2 (36 points)
Coquitlam, 32 games = 6-23-1-2 (15 points)
CARIBOO COUGARS:
The 17-4-1 Cariboo Cougars battle the 8-12-2 North Island Silvertips Saturday (4:45PM) and Sunday (8AM) in Nanaimo.
The Major Midget Cougars are in second place, four points behind the 19-3-1 Valley West Hawks.
The Hawks beat the Greater Vancouver Canadians 4-1 Thursday.
HIGH SCHOOL HOCKEY:
The 15th annual “Spirit” high school hockey game for charity between Prince George Secondary (PGSS) and College Heights Secondary will be played today at 12:30PM at the CN Centre.
Donations will be taken for St. Vincent De Paul Society.
Last year’s game between the two teams was won by PGSS 2-1 in a shootout.
NHL:
San Jose 3 Calgary 2
Nashville 4 Edmonton 0
Chicago 5 Winnipeg 1
Minnesota 2 Toronto 0
Montreal 2 New Jersey 1 (OT)
The 14-14-4 Vancouver Canucks host San Jose tonight.
The Canucks have dropped their last four while being outscored 20-5.
Vancouver is five points out of a playoff spot.
BIATHLON:
Two Prince George athletes finished in the top 20 at the IBU Cup Women’s Biathlon 15-kilometre individual race in Obertilliach, Austria.
Sarah Beaudry placed 10th and Megan Tandy 18th out of 100 racers.
NFL:
Denver Broncos 25 Indianapolis Colts 13
NBA:
The 18-8 Toronto Raptors host the 11-16 Brooklyn Nets tonight.
The Raptors are third in the NBA Eastern Conference, one-and-a-half behind Cleveland and four games back of Boston.