(As of 12:01AM)
PRINCE GEORGE COUGARS:
Kelowna Rockets 6 Prince George Cougars 3
The Rockets scored five consecutive goals in the first 15 minutes of the third period to erase a 2-1 deficit and clinch first place in the BC Division for the seventh time.
It was the sixth consecutive loss for the (23-38-5-4) Cougars.
Taylor Gauthier (named the third star) made 44 saves as Kelowna outshot Prince George 50-18, including 24-5 in the third period.
Brogan O’Brien (1G, 1A), Aaron Boyd, and Ryan Schoettler scored for the Cougars, who went one-for-four (1/4) on the power-play, while Kelowna was zero-for-eight (0/8).
The penalty-filled final period saw a couple of Cougars defencemen ejected with suspensions looming.
Joel Lakusta took a five-minute major and a game misconduct for checking to the head, while Cameron MacPhee was given a game misconduct for a match attempt-to-injure.
The Cougars wrap up their season with a home-and-home against the Blazers; Friday in Kamloops, and Saturday in Prince George.
WESTERN HOCKEY LEAGUE:
Vancouver 4 Kamloops 1
(Ty Ronning scored his 60th goal and rookie goalie Trent Miner made 39 saves for the Giants)
Seattle 6 Spokane 3
Calgary 3 Kootenay 2 (SO)
Red Deer 5 Lethbridge 2
Regina 3 Prince Albert 2 (SO)
Saskatoon 5 Swift Current 2
BC DIVISION STANDINGS:
Kelowna, 70 games = 41-22-5-2 (89 points)
Victoria, 70 games = 39-25-4-2 (84 points)
Vancouver, 70 games = 36-25-6-3 (81 points)
Kamloops, 70 games = 29-36-1-4 (63 points)
Prince George, 70 games = 23-38-5-4 (55 points)
WESTERN CONFERENCE WILD CARD:
Tri-City, 69 games = 36-24-8-1 (81 points)
Seattle, 69 games = 33-26-8-2 (76 points)
Kamloops, 70 games = 29-36-1-4 (63 points)
Prince George, 70 games = 23-38-5-4 (55 points)
PRINCE GEORGE SPRUCE KINGS:
Defenceman Layton Ahac of the Prince George Spruce Kings has been voted to the BCHL All-Rookie team by the league’s play-by-play broadcasters.
Ahac, who turned 17 last month, had six goals and 28 points in 57 regular season games.
None of the Spruce Kings were named to the BCHL first or second All-Star teams.
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Round Two of the playoffs for the Spruce Kings will begin this weekend when they host the Surrey Eagles.
The best-of-seven BCHL Mainland Division final opens at the Rolling Mix Concrete Arena (RMCA) Friday and Saturday with Games Three and Four Monday and Tuesday in Surrey.
During the regular season, Prince George had three wins and an overtime loss at home, but the Eagles won all four games in Surrey.
The Spruce Kings Office is open today and Friday from 9 AM – 5 PM.
Eagles-Spruce Kings second round schedule: (All Games at 7PM)
GAME 1 = Friday, March 16th – Surrey @ Prince George
GAME 2 = Saturday, March 17th – Surrey @ Prince George
GAME 3 = Monday, March 19th – Prince George @ Surrey
GAME 4 = Tuesday, March 20th – Prince George @ Surrey
GAME 5 = Thursday, March 22nd – Surrey @ Prince George (If necessary)
GAME 6 = Saturday, March 24- Prince George @ Surrey (If necessary)
GAME 7 = Sunday, March 25 – Surrey @ Prince George (If necessary)
CARIBOO COUGARS:
The second place Cariboo Cougars host the seventh place Thompson Blazers in the best of three BCMML quarter-final series at Kin 1.
Games will be played Friday at 5:30PM, Saturday at 4PM, and Sunday, if needed, at 10AM.
Cariboo finished with a 30-7-3 regular season record, two points behind the (31-6-2-1) Valley West Hawks.
NHL:
Anaheim 3 Vancouver 0
Third straight game the (25-36-9) Canucks were blanked, running their scoreless streak to 10 periods and 212 minutes.
Vancouver is 4-13-3 in its last 20 games to sit 29th (third last) in the overall standings, two points ahead of Arizona and three up on Buffalo.
Toronto 6 Dallas 5 (SO)
Maple Leafs goaltender Frederik Andersen left the game with an upper-body injury and did not return.
San Jose 4 Edmonton 3 (OT)
New York Rangers 4 Pittsburgh 3 (OT)
New Jersey 8 Vegas 3
NFL:
The Buffalo Bills have a new quarterback signing former Cincinnati Bengals back-up AJ McCarron to a two-year deal.
The Minnesota Vikings have acquired quarterback Trevor Siemian from the Denver Broncos for a draft pick.
Siemian will back-up Kirk Cousins.
BIATHLON:
UPDATE: Beaudry finished 84th out of 97 today in Oslo
Sarah Beaudry of Prince George competes in the women’s 7.5-kilometre Sprint today at the final IBU Biathlon World Cup races of the season in Oslo, Norway.
The Relay will be run Saturday followed by the women’s 10-kilometre Pursuit on Sunday.
Last week, the 23-year-old Beaudry finished 66th out of 96 in the World Cup 7.5-kilometre Sprint in Kontiolahti, Finland.
WHEELCHAIR BASKETBALL:
Joel Ewert of Prince George is part of the BC team that competes at the Junior National Wheelchair Basketball Championships in Friday to Sunday Longeuil, Quebec.
Ewert is one of 11 athletes on the Provincial team.
NBA:
The Toronto Raptors put a nine game win streak on the line when they tip off tonight against the (40-28) Pacers in Indiana.
The (50-17) Raptors lead the Eastern Conference by four-and-a-half games over the (46-22) Boston Celtics.
Indiana is third, 10-and-a-half games off the pace.
SOCCER:
Edmonton, Toronto, and Montreal are part of Canada’s joint bid along with the United States and Mexico to co-host the 2026 FIFA World Cup.
Vancouver missed the deadline to be involved in the bid.