The homecoming for Marcus Allen and Lane Goodwin couldn’t have gotten any sweeter as the Cariboo Cougars inched their way closer to first place in the BC Major Midget Hockey League.
The defending BCMML champions put the boots to the Vancouver NE Chiefs at the Fort Forum in Fort St. James winning 5-1 on Saturday and 2-1 this morning.
Brandon Dent kicked off the weekend with a flying start as the energetic forward sliced and diced his way to a hat-trick in the first game of the double-header while playing on the top line with Hunter Floris and Grady Thomas.
“It was nice since we haven’t won yet in 2018 so it was a great feeling and my line mates were feeding me nice passes,” says Dent.
“It helps when everyone on the line is moving their feet and getting chances by creating space for each other and it really opened up the ice with the scoring chances.”
Dent adds it was great to support Goodwin and Allen who had no shortage of support from the home crowd both days.
“It was a special opportunity for them to play in front of the home crowd, it was a good experience for us as it was a packed barn both games and the crowd was behind us.”
Craig MacDonald and Paul Hauk scored both Cariboo goals during the second half of the double header.
This weekend was also a bit of a homecoming for Vanderhoof product Hunter Floris who grew up 30 minutes away from the arena.
Looking good @allen_marky1 and @hunter_floris19. A couple of wins with @cariboocougars in #FortStJames pic.twitter.com/XeMBcx3mw1
— V’hoof Minor Hockey (@VMHA_Bears) January 21, 2018
Cariboo improves to 21-5-2 on the season and are just a game back of the Valley West Hawks for top spot who fell to the Thompson Blazers 4-1.
The Cougars are back on the road next weekend when they head to Vancouver Island to play the South Island Royals Friday and Saturday.
The Hawks play the Vancouver Northwest Giants Thursday and Sunday.