(As of 12:01AM)
PRINCE GEORGE COUGARS:
The Prince George Cougars are in the United States for a two-game road trip, the start of a stretch of six games in nine nights.
The 16-19-4-3 Cougars visit the Spokane Chiefs tonight and the Tri-City Americans Saturday.
Prince George is tied with Kamloops, six points behind Spokane for the final wild-card playoff spot.
The Chiefs beat the Cougars 4-2 and 5-1 in their two previous meetings this season but that was on opening weekend, September 22nd and 23rd at the CN Centre.
WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE:
BC DIVISION STANDINGS:
Kelowna, 41 games = 26-12-2-1 (55 points)
Vancouver, 44 games = 24-14-4-2 (54 points)
Victoria, 43 games = 23-16-3-1 (50 points)
Kamloops, 41 games = 18-20-1-2 (39 points)
Prince George, 42 games = 16-19-4-3 (39 points)
WESTERN CONFERENCE WILD CARD:
Seattle, 40 games = 20-14-4-2 (46 points)
Spokane, 42 games = 21-18-1-2 (45 points)
Kamloops, 41 games = 18-20-1-2 (39 points)
Prince George, 42 games = 16-19-4-3 (39 points)
PRINCE GEORGE SPRUCE KINGS:
The Prince George Spruce Kings start a four game homestand when they entertain the Cowichan Valley Capitals tonight, their only game this weekend.
The 21-12-4-4 Spruce Kings are first in the Mainland Division (alongside Langley) while the 7-28-3-2 Capitals are last in the Island Division with the worst record in the BCHL.
BCHL:
Longtime Vernon Vipers owner and governor Duncan Wray died suddenly on his 68th birtthday.
“We were shocked and saddened to receive word today about Duncan,” said BCHL commissioner John Grisdale in a news release.
“He was the lifeblood of the Vipers franchise for a very long time and he leaves a huge void in our league and in our hearts.”
Under Wray’s watch since 1992, the Vipers were four-time national Junior A champions.
In addition, the Vipers claimed six Fred Page Cup BCHL titles.
On Saturday, he was among the many honourees at the Vipers’ game against Prince George, a Vernon celebration of the city’s Civic Arena and its 80th anniversary.
In 2011, Wray was inducted into the BC Hockey Hall of Fame.
MAINLAND DIVISION STANDINGS:
Prince George, 41 games = 21-12-4-4 (50 points)
Langley, 42 games = 19-11-10-2 (50 points)
Surrey, 40 games = 20-14-4-2 (46 points)
Chilliwack, 39 games = 19-16-2-2 (42 points)
Coquitlam, 38 games = 9-26-1-2 (21 points)
CARIBOO COUGARS:
The Cariboo Cougars and the Valley West Hawks have a doubleheader Saturday (3PM) and Sunday (8:30AM) at at the BC Major Midget League (BCMML) Showcase in Kelowna.
The 19-4-1 Cougars are in second place, just two points behind the 20-3-1 Hawks.
Valley West beat Cariboo 5-2 and 5-3 in their first two meetings this season on September 23rd and 24th at Kin 1.
NHL:
Calgary 5 Tampa Bay 1
It’s the fifth straight win for the 23-16-4 Flames, who are 3rd in the Pacific Division.
Carolina 3 Washington 1
Buffalo 3 Columbus 1
The 16-21-6 Vancouver Canucks visit the 25-17-3 Columbus Blue Jackets tonight.
The Canucks have lost five straight and 13 of the last 15 games to fall 12 points out of a playoff spot.
UNBC TIMBERWOLVES:
The UNBC Timberwolves visit the Brandon Bobcats tonight and Saturday Canada West basketball.
Both the UNBC men’s and women’s teams are 6-8 and in 11th place (out of 17).
The top 12 teams qualify for the playoffs.
Brandon is 6-6 in the men’s division and 2-10 in the women’s standings.
NBA:
Toronto 133 Cleveland 99
The 133 points was the most the Raptors have ever scored in a regular-season, regulation-time game.
The 29-11 Raptors, sitting second in the Eastern Conference, three games back of Boston, host the 33-9 Golden
State Warriors Saturday.
The Warriors play tonight in Milwaukee before heading to Toronto.
NFL:
The NFL Conference semi-finals kick off Saturday with Atlanta at Philadelphia (1:30PM) and Tennessee at New England (5:15PM).
The two Sunday games feature Jacksonville at Pittsburgh (10:05AM) and New Orleans at Minnesota (1:40PM).
Winners meet in the Conference championship games on Sunday, January 21st.
The betting lines have the Falcons favoured by three, the Patriots by 13.5, the Steelers by seven and the Vikings by five.
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