PRINCE GEORGE COUGARS:
The Prince George Cougars start a stretch of four home games in five nights when they entertain the Seattle Thunderbirds tonight and Wednesday.
The Thunderbirds won the first two meetings this season over the Cougars, 5-1 September 29th and 5-3 December 15th, with both of those games in Seattle.
The 17-20-4-3 Cougars are fourth in the BC Division and ninth in the Western Conference, two points ahead of the Kamloops Blazers and five behind Seattle.
The Thunderbirds hold down the final wild card playoff spot, a point behind Spokane.
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The Prince George Cougars have reduced their roster by waiving 20-year-old forward Nic Holowko and dropping 17-year-old forward Ben Coppinger.
Holowko notched a goal and four assists in 10 games.
His release is an indication that 20-year-old Brogan O’Brien will be ready to return to the line-up from a lower body injury in the near future.
Coppinger, who had four assists in 18 games, is expected to join the Selkirk Steelers of the MJHL.
WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE:
Everett 6 Tri-City 5
Everett takes over sole possession of first place in the US Division, two points ahead of Portland, but Portland has three games in hand.
BC DIVISION STANDINGS:
Kelowna, 43 games = 27-13-2-1 (57 points)
Vancouver, 45 games = 25-14-4-2 (56 points)
Victoria, 45 games = 25-16-3-1 (54 points)
Prince George, 44 games = 17-20-4-3 (41 points)
Kamloops, 43 games = 18-22-1-2 (39 points)
WESTERN CONFERENCE WILD CARD:
Spokane, 44 games = 22-19-1-2 (47 points)
Seattle, 42 games = 20-16-4-2 (46 points)
Prince George, 44 games = 17-20-4-3 (41 points)
Kamloops, 43 games = 18-22-1-2 (39 points)
PRINCE GEORGE SPRUCE KINGS:
Mike Hawes has signed a three-year contract extension to remain General Manager of the Prince George Spruce Kings.
His current deal was to expire at the end of May, 2018.
Hawes has been team’s GM for the past seven years.
The Spruce Kings have a 177-165-14-32 regular season record under his leadership.
Hawes has served in some capacity with the team for the past 13 years.
The Spruce Kings play their next game Thursday when they host the Penticton Vees.
BCHL:
MAINLAND DIVISION STANDINGS:
Prince George, 42 games = 21-13-4-4 (50 points)
Langley, 43 games = 19-12-10-2 (50 points)
Surrey, 43 games = 22-15-4-2 (50 points)
Chilliwack, 42 games = 20-17-2-3 (45 points)
Coquitlam, 41 games = 10-27-1-3 (24 points)
JUNIOR B HOCKEY:
The Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) has turned down an application from the city of Quesnel.
The vote by league Governors was 16-to-three against expansion.
CARIBOO COUGARS:
The Cariboo Cougars will play their next two home games in Fort St. James, Saturday at 5PM and Sunday at 10AM when battle the 10-11-1-3 Vancouver NE Chiefs, who are in seventh place in the 11-team league.
With 14 regular season games left, the 19-5-2 Cougars are in second place, four points behind the 21-3-2 Valley West Hawks and two ahead of the 18-6-1-1 Fraser Valley Thunderbirds.
NHL:
New York Islanders 5 Montreal 4 (OT)
John Tavares scored his second goal of the game in overtime.
San Jose 4 Los Angeles 1
Colorado 3 Anaheim 1
Dallas 3 Boston 2 (OT)
The 18-21-6 Vancouver Canucks are off until the weekend when they visit the Edmonton Oilers Saturday and the Winnipeg Jets Sunday to conclude a string of seven straight games on the road.
The Canucks are second last in the Western Conference, 11 points out of a playoff spot.
UNBC TIMBERWOLVES:
The UNBC Timberwolves have just four games left in the Canada West basketball regular season; Friday and Saturday at Victoria and January 26th and 27th at home against Fraser Valley.
The Lady Timberwolves are 8-8 and in ninth place out of 17 teams.
The UNBC men are 11th with a 7-9 record.
The top 12 qualify for the playoffs.
NBA:
Philadelphia 117 Toronto 111
The 29-13 Raptors are 2nd in the Eastern Conference. four games behind Boston and 3 1/2 ahead of Cleveland.
Golden State 118 Cleveland 108
13th straight road victory for the 36-9 Warriors.
AUSTRALIAN OPEN:
Milos Raonic has been knocked out in the first round of the Australian Open.
The 22nd seed from Thornhill, Ont. lost in four sets to unseeded Lukas Lacko.
On the women’s side, Canadian Eugenie Bouchard advanced to the second round with a 6-3, 7-6 victory over Océane Dodin.
MLB:
The Toronto Blue Jays have signed soon to be 37-year-old outfielder Curtis Granderson to a one-year contract, worth $5 million.
Granderson hit .212 with 26 home runs and 64 RBIs during the 2017 season with the New York Mets and LA Dodgers.
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Former National League MVP Andrew McCutchen has been traded from the Pittsburgh Pirates to the San Francisco Giants for right-hander Kyle Crick and minor league outfielder Bryan Reynolds.
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After 15 major-league seasons, 36-year-old first baseman Justin Morneau will announce his retirement on Wednesday.
The New Westminster native will take a job as special assistant with the Minnesota Twins.
CFL:
The Edmonton Eskimos have signed 38-year-old QB Kevin Glenn to a one-year deal.
Glenn becomes the first player to have been part of every active team in the league at some point in his career, although he never suited up for Toronto or Ottawa.
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The Montreal Alouettes have released 35-year-old QB Darian Durant.
NFL:
Minnesota Vikings offensive coordinator Pat Shurmur is rumored to be the front-runner to become the 18th head coach of the New York Giants.
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The Tennessee Titans are looking for a head coach after the team announced they have mutually parted ways with Mike Mularkey.