(As of 12:01AM)
PRINCE GEORGE COUGARS:
Regina Pats 4 Prince George Cougars 1
Taylor Gauthier was superb with 56 saves as the Pats outshot the Cats 60-30.
Ex-Cougar Jesse Gabrielle opened the scoring just 80 seconds into the game on the power-play, his seventh goal in 10 games since joining Regina.
Sam Steel tallied the winner at 4:15 of the second.
Jared Bethune notched the only PG goal, an unassisted short-handed effort on a breakaway.
Game was tied 1-1 after one and the Pats led 3-1 after two.
Prince George was zero-for-eight (0/8) on the power-play while Regina went one-for-four (1/4).
The Cougars have been outscored 18-6 after four games on their Prairie road trip, which continues Friday in Brandon and wraps up Saturday in Moose Jaw.
The 18-26-4-4 Cougars will play their next home games on February 9th and 10th against the Kamloops Blazers.
WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE:
Kamloops 3 Medicine Hat 1
Vancouver 4 Calgary 1
Tri-City 7 Victoria 1
Portland 3 Everett 0
BC DIVISION STANDINGS:
Kelowna, 50 games = 32-14-3-1 (68 points)
Victoria, 52 games = 30-18-3-1 (64 points)
Vancouver, 50 games = 26-16-5-3 (60 points)
Kamloops, 51 games = 24-24-1-2 (51 points)
Prince George, 52 games = 18-26-4-4 (44 points)
WESTERN CONFERENCE WILD CARD:
Seattle, 50 games = 26-18-4-2 (58 points)
Spokane, 50 games = 26-19-3-2 (57 points)
Kamloops, 51 games = 24-24-1-2 (51 points)
Prince George, 52 games = 18-26-4-4 (44 points)
PRINCE GEORGE SPRUCE KINGS:
The Prince George Spruce Kings start a five-game home-stand when they entertain the Chilliwack Chiefs Friday and Saturday.
With 10 regular season games remaining, the 25-15-4-4 Spruce Kings lead the Mainland Division by three points over Surrey, four over Langley and by nine over Chilliwack.
BCHL:
MAINLAND DIVISION STANDINGS:
Prince George, 48 games = 25-15-4-4 (58 points)
Surrey, 48 games = 24-17-5-2 (55 points)
Langley, 48 games = 21-15-10-2 (54 points)
Chilliwack, 46 games = 22-19-2-3 (49 points)
Coquitlam, 47 games = 13-30-1-3 (30 points)
CARIBOO COUGARS:
The Cariboo Cougars next two games will be in Richmond against the 16-12-1-1 Greater Vancouver Canadians Saturday at 5PM and Sunday at 10AM.
The 23-5-2-0 Major Midget Cougars are in second place, just a point behind the 23-4-2-1 Valley West Hawks.
The Canadians are tied for fourth in the 11-team league alongside the Vancouver NW Giants and the Okanagan Rockets, although the Giants and Rockets have played two less games.
NHL:
Toronto 5 New York Islanders 0
Detroit 2 San Jose 1 (SO)
Washington 5 Philadelphia 3
The Vancouver Canucks host the 24-19-7 Chicago Blackhawks tonight.
The 20-24-6 Canucks are 13 points out of a playoff spot while the Hawks are four points out.
CANADIAN WOMEN’S CURLING CHAMPIONSHIPS:
BC (Kesa Van Osch) is one of eight teams that has earned a spot in the championship pool at the National Scotties Tournament of Hearts in Penticton.
In its last round robin game, BC beat Newfoundland/Labrador 10-7 to finish third in Pool B with a 4-3 record.
Alberta topped Pool B at 6-1 followed by Canada at 5-2.
Ontario and Newfoundland/Labrador tied for 4th at 4-3 and will meet in a tie-breaker game.
In Pool A, Wildcard (Kerri Einarson) finished first at 6-1 followed by Manitoba, Nova Scotia and Northern Ontario at 5-2.
Today and Friday, the top four teams in each pool will play a crossover Championship Pool round robin against the teams from the other pool they haven’t played yet.
Each team’s record from Pool A and Pool B play will carry over with the top four moving on to Page Playoff action Saturday.
UNBC TIMBERWOLVES:
The UNBC women’s soccer team has added an American recruit for the 2018 Canada West season.
18-year-old Sofia Jones will join the Timberwolves after playing her freshman season with City College of San Francisco.
In 20 games, Jones scored 17 times to lead the Rams to a 15-3-2 record.
“She’s a solid attacking player and I think she will add a different dimension to our team next year. She could end up in the midfield because she has a great soccer mind,” said TWolves coach Neil Sedgwick in a team release.
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The Canada West basketball regular season will wrap up this weekend.
The UNBC Timberwolves, who are preparing for the playoffs which start February 9th, have the bye.
The UNBC men had a 10-10 record while the Lady Timberwolves finished 9-11.
NBA:
The 34-15 Toronto Raptors visit the 28-22 Washington Wizards tonight.
The Raptors are 1 1/2 games behind the Eastern Conference leading (37-15) Boston Celtics.
NFL:
New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski says he expects to play in Sunday’s Super Bowl against the Philadelphia Eagles.
Gronkowski is in the NFL’s concussion protocol although he has been participating at practice in preparation for the game.