“We do not remember days; we remember moments.” ~Cesare Pavese, The Burning Brand
First, and foremost, I wish you and yours a very healthy happy safe new year.
I hope you are enjoying the festive holiday season.
This is the time that we sit back, reflect and ask, where did the last year go?
I am not sure if it is a sign of age, but as I get older, it appears each year goes much faster.
2017 had its share of memorable Prince George sports moments.
Here are 10 of them that caught my attention:
Banner raised at CN Centre:
It took the Prince George Cougars 23 years, but they finally earned their first banner by taking top spot in the BC Division of the WHL.
The Cougars finished the 2016-17 season with a team record 45 wins (45-21-3-3) and 96 points, one point ahead of Kelowna.
They clinched first place by picking up a point in the 2-1 regular season ending shootout loss to Kamloops before a standing room only crowd of 5,806 at CN Centre.
The thrill of victory quickly turned to the agony of defeat as the Cougars lost to Portland in six games in the first round of the playoffs.
Cape Breton earns Telus Cup in Prince George:
The Cariboo Cougars hosted the Telus Cup national midget hockey championship but failed to make the playoffs with a 1-2-2 round robin record.
The Cape Breton West Islanders became the first Atlantic region team to win the tournament, defeating Quebec champion Saint Francois Blizzard 5-4 in overtime in the final.
Best in BC:
Prince George won two midget hockey titles on home ice just four days apart.
First, Coast Inn captured the Midget Tier 1 championship with a triple OT 1-0 win over Chilliwack in the final.
Second, also at Kin 1, the Cariboo Cougars earned the BC Major Midget title following a 4-0 triumph over the Greater Vancouver Canadians in the 3rd and deciding game of the provincial final.
Greetings from the PM:
Myles Mattila of Prince George (who recently moved to Kelowna) won the BC Hockey President’s Award that goes to an individual who has “brought honour to the amateur hockey fraternity through an outstanding humanitarian endeavour.”
Mattila played with the Cariboo Cougars during the 2016-17 season.
His extensive work with Mindcheck (that promotes education and awareness about mental health issues among young athletes) received a Twitter nod from Prime Minister Justin Trudeau.
Cubs select a Young second baseman:
Jared Young became the highest ever pick of a Prince George player in the Major League Baseball draft, going to the Chicago Cubs in the 15th round, 465th overall.
In addition to a .974 fielding percentage, Young led the Old Dominion University Monarchs in 11 offensive
categories, including average (.367), homers (7), and on-base percentage (.448).
Bronze helps O’Dine rise and shine:
Meryeta O’Dine of Prince George earned a bronze medal in the women’s World Cup snowboard cross event in Feldberg, Germany.
O’Dine is the top Canadian in the World Cup standings and is expected to land a spot on the Canadian team for the Pyongchang, South Korea Olympics in February.
Treasure jumps on the world stage:
After winning her 4th national high jumping championship, Alyx Treasure of Prince George went on to tie for 21st out of 30 in the women’s high jump at the world track and field championships in London, England.
Knights rule on the diamond:
The PG Lomak Knights won the BC Baseball midget AA (U-18) championship for the second straight year after going 6-0 at the Provincials in Maple Ridge.
The Knights went on to earn silver at the Western Canadian Baseball Association 18-and-under AA championship in Kamloops, dropping the final 4-1 to the Northwest Prairie Pirates of Saskatchewan.
Grays hosted two major baseball tournaments:
The Prince George Grays finished third at the Western Canadian Baseball Association senior men’s championship at Citizen Field that was won by the Southwest All-stars from Manitoba.
Earlier, the Grays went 1-3 at the BC senior men’s baseball championship in P.G. where the Coquitlam Angels earned gold.
Timberwolves set new standard:
They may not have had a winning record, but there was progress for the UNBC Timberwolves.
The Timberwolves made the Canada West playoffs for the first time in men’s soccer, women’s soccer and women’s basketball.
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
FROM THE QUOTE RACK:
Now that the Cleveland Browns have clinched the No. 1 overall pick in next year’s draft, should coach Hue (Jackson) consider resting his starters?
Cleveland Plain Dealer
This just in: Oakland Raiders wideout Amari Cooper has been chosen to drop the ball in Times Square on New Year’s Eve.
Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times
The NFL has canceled the last Sunday Night Football game of the season on New Year’s Eve. Apparently Roger Goodell was afraid of the backlash if any of the players took a knee during “Auld Lang Syne.”
Jim Barach of WCHS-TV in Charleston, W.Va.
The NFL has changed several week 17 games to later in the day. The Redskins & Giants would have been happy had they changed their game to next pre-season.
Comedy writer Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com
New England Patriots coach Bill Belichick was spotted shopping for a Christmas tree. A little different: Instead of a star, Belichick places a little hoodie atop the tree.
Brad Dickson of the Omaha (Neb.) World-Herald
IN CASE YOU MISSED IT:
Rumour has it two members of the Red Deer WHL junior hockey team believe in Santa. The rest are Rebels without a Claus.
Comedy writer RJ Currie www.Sportsdeke.com
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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