(As of 12:01AM)
PRINCE GEORGE SPRUCE KINGS: (BCHL)
Cowichan Valley Capitals 5 Prince George Spruce Kings 2 (Saturday)
Ben Poisson scored both goals for the Spruce Kings, who play their third road game in as many games this afternoon in Victoria against the Island Division leading (24-12-0-2) Grizzlies.
The 25-10-2-2 Spruce Kings are tied with the (27-11) Chilliwack Chiefs for first place in the Mainland Division and the BCHL overall standings.
The Chiefs beat the Coquitlam Express 5-3 Saturday.
The Spruce Kings next home game will be against Cowichan on Friday.
Merritt Centennials 3 Prince George Spruce Kings 2 (Shootout Friday)
COMMITTED: Max Coyle has committed to the University of Alabama-Huntsville for next season! @UAHChargers @max_maxcoyle
FULL RELEASE: https://t.co/hyPXolJy5a pic.twitter.com/Phur3eYybF— Spruce Kings (@SpruceKings) January 4, 2019
NHL: (Winnipeg the only Canadian team idle Saturday)
Toronto 5 Vancouver 0
The 20-21-4 Canucks finished 3-3 on a six-game road trip.
Elias Pettersson did not play because of an injured right knee.
Update on Pettersson from Coach Green: “Slight sprain in his MCL, it’s not too bad. Probably as good news as we could have hoped for.”
— Vancouver Canucks (@Canucks) January 6, 2019
In 38 games, the 20-year-old rookie has 42 points, including 22 goals.
The Canucks will entertain Arizona Thursday to start a six-game homestand that will conclude their January schedule.
LA 4 Edmonton 0
Calgary 3 Philadelphia 2 (OT)
Nashville 4 Montreal 1
Minnesota 4 Ottawa 3
There are seven Sunday games in the NHL with three of them involving Canadian teams: Edmonton at Anaheim, Dallas at Winnipeg and Carolina at Ottawa.
PRINCE GEORGE COUGARS: (WHL)
Prince George Cougars 2 Kelowna Rockets 1 (Shootout Friday)
The Cougars trailed 1-0 until Jackson Leppard scored on a power play midway through the third period.
Highlights from tonight’s 2-1 win. | #NorthernUprising #WHL
— PG Cougars (@PGCougars) January 5, 2019
Prince George won the shootout 2-1 with Tyson Upper notching the shootout winner.
Winning goaltender Taylor Gauthier made 26 saves with five of them in overtime.
? WHL Highlight of the Night ?
January 4, 20192019 #NHLDraft prospect @tgoats_35 of the @PGCougars#WHLHoN pic.twitter.com/AJeTzLGvQo
— The WHL (@TheWHL) January 5, 2019
The Cougars visit (20-14-1-1) Tri-City Tuesday and (22-13-2-2) Spokane Wednesday to complete a stretch of 11 consecutive games on the road.
Prince George has lost nine of its last 11 road games and 11 of 14 overall.
The 13-21-1-2 Cougars are four points behind the (15-18-2-1) Kamloops Blazers for the second and final wild-card spot.
The Blazers, who beat Kelowna 4-3 Saturday, visit Everett tonight.
The Cougars host (17-18-3-1) Kelowna January 11th and 12th to begin a six-game homestand.
WORLD JUNIOR HOCKEY CHAMPIONSHIP:
(Gold medal game in Vancouver)
Finland 3 USA 2
The victory gives Finland gold in three of the last six years (2014, 2016, 2019).
(Bronze medal game)
Russia 5 Switzerland 2
Canada finished sixth after a 2-1 loss to Finland in overtime in the quarterfinals.
UNBC TIMBERWOLVES:
(Canada West women’s basketball)
UNBC Timberwolves 79 TRU Wolfpack (Kamloops) 49 (Saturday)
VICTORY! @UNBCWomensBball improves to 8-4 with a 79-47 win over the @GoTRUWolfPack! @shakirova6alina improves on last night’s career high with 19 points, @VLouka13 has 19 & 10, @landry_madi goes for 15 & 5, and Maria Mongomo has 13 & 10! pic.twitter.com/gLnjyF80Ko
— UNBC Athletics (@UNBCATHLETICS) January 6, 2019
A career-high 7 assists earns @EmilyHolmes15 the @MrMikesPG Player of the Game, as she helped the @UNBCWomensBball team to a 79-49 win over @GoTRUWolfPack! @UNBC now sits 8-4 on the season! pic.twitter.com/PI9B4eDf7U
— UNBC Athletics (@UNBCATHLETICS) January 6, 2019
UNBC Timberwolves 78 TRU Wolfpack (Kamloops) 55 (Friday)
A career high 18 points for @shakirova6alina in a 78-55 @UNBCWomensBball win over @GoTRUWolfPack earns Baby Shak the @MrMikesPG Player of the Game! pic.twitter.com/d0W5kyS8YA
— UNBC Athletics (@UNBCATHLETICS) January 5, 2019
(Canada West men’s basketball)
TRU Wolfpack (Kamloops) 82 UNBC Timberwolves 78 (OT Saturday)
A 20 point, 13 rebound, 6 assist, 3 steal performance makes JV Leamy our @MrMikesPG Player of the Game in a tough 82-78 @UNBCBasketball overtime loss to @GoTRUWolfPack. An incredible crowd at the @NorthernSport! TWolves now 7-5 on the season. pic.twitter.com/YeM9RAdEjp
— UNBC Athletics (@UNBCATHLETICS) January 6, 2019
UNBC Timberwolves 90 TRU Wolfpack (Kamloops) 81 (Friday)
.@VovaPluzhnikov had 25 points, 6 rebounds & 5 assists, and JV Leamy had 24 points, 7 rebounds, 6 assists, and 5 steals, earning them @MrMikesPG Players of the Game in @UNBCBasketball‘s 90-81 win over @GoTRUWolfPack! pic.twitter.com/3WUNjPLaU6
— UNBC Athletics (@UNBCATHLETICS) January 5, 2019
The UNBC women are 8-4 (7th place) and the men 7-5 (7th place out of 17 teams).
The Timberwolves host the Manitoba Bisons Friday and Saturday.
Manitoba is 5-7 (women) and 3-9 (men).
NBA:
Toronto 123 Milwaukee 116
The Raptors host the Indiana Pacers tonight.
The 29-12 Raptors are 1/2 game ahead of the (27-11) Bucks for top spot in the Eastern Conference.
Toronto is also 1 1/2 games in front of third place (26-12) Indiana.
NFL: (Wildcard weekend)
Dallas 24 Seattle 22
Indianapolis 21 Houston 7
The Cowboys and Colts advance to the Conference semi-finals next weekend.
Playoff games today have LA Chargers at Baltimore (10:05 a.m.) and Philadelphia at Chicago (1:40).