Cougars Associate Coach sounds off on Warriors after Moose Jaw 4-1 victory

For the fourth time on the Prairie road trip, a former Prince George Cougar scored against the Cats.

Justin Almeida was named first star, after he tallied the winner on the power play in the second period and added two assists, in leading the Moose Jaw Warriors to a 4-1 victory.

FINAL:@tgoats_35 the 3rd star, with 44-saves.#WHL pic.twitter.com/9ZRML2Jrs8

— PG Cougars (@PGCougars) February 4, 2018

The 18-year-old (turns 19 on Tuesday) was sent one year ago to the Warriors in a multi-player major deal that landed Prince George Nikita Popugaev, who is no longer with the team.

Almeida is tied for ninth in WHL scoring with 72 points (30G, 42A) in 52 games.

Kody McDonald (Prince Albert), Josh Anderson (Swift Current), and Jesse Gabrielle (Regina) are the other ex- Cougars that scored against PG on the trip, and it all came in a winning effort.

Taylor Gauthier had his second straight strong performance in net with 44 saves, as Moose Jaw outshot Prince George 48-23.

Gauthier also turned aside 56 of 60 shots in Wednesday’s 4-1 loss to Regina.

Last moment chance in the second #MJvsPG #WHL #CallingAllFans pic.twitter.com/2JBO5X6vSK

— Moose Jaw Warriors (@MJWARRIORS) February 4, 2018

Josh Maser notched the only goal for the Cats and it came on a five-on-three power play with 3:10 left in the third period.

The (40-9-1-2) Warriors are the first team in the WHL this season to post 40 wins.

“It’s not easy when a team plays only two lines for pretty much the whole night. It’s embarrassing to watch this hockey team (Moose Jaw) to tell you the truth. I’m very upset. To come out here and see a top place team and really they played two-2 1/2 lines. I thought we did a good job of keeping them to the outside. Yes, we gave up some chances and Goats (Gauthier) played really well. We knew that was going to happen with a team this powerful,” said Cougars Associate Coach Steve O’Rourke on 94.3 the GOAT‘s post-game show.

“If you are not willing to play four lines during a 72 game schedule, it’s going to catch up to you somewhere. They are a good hockey club, give them credit, but I don’t know about the long term. Personally I didn’t think it looks good on junior hockey. They have a fourth line that didn’t see the ice all night,” added O’Rourke.

The (19-27-4-4) Cougars finished 1-4-0-1 on their Prairie road trip and sit 13 points out of a playoff spot.

They play their next three on home ice starting with a doubleheader against the Kamloops Blazers Friday and Saturday at the CN Centre.

 

BC DIVISION STANDINGS:

Kelowna, 52 games = 32-16-3-1 (68 points)
Victoria, 54 games = 32-18-3-1  (68 points)
Vancouver, 52 games = 28-16-5-3 (64 points)
Kamloops, 52 games = 24-24-1-3 (52 points)
Prince George, 54 games = 19-27-4-4 (46 points)

WESTERN CONFERENCE WILD CARD:

Spokane, 51 games = 27-19-3-2 (59 points)
Seattle, 51 games = 26-18-5-2 (59 points)
Kamloops, 52 games = 24-24-1-3 (52 points)
Prince George, 54 games = 19-27-4-4 (46 points)

 

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