–The Prince George Spruce Kings erased a 5-4 deficit with three straight goals in the final 5 1/2 minutes of the third period to knock off the Coquitlam Express 7-5, to the delight of 756 fans at the Coliseum. Braiden Epp notched a hat trick and added two assists for the Spruce Kings, who dropped a 6-3 decision Saturday to the Victoria Grizzlies in front of 1,141 fans. The 20-19-0-4 Spruce Kings host the 7-33-0-3 Surrey Eagles Thursday and Friday. PG is in 3rd place in the BCHL Mainland Division, seven points behind Langley and eight back of Chilliwack.
–The Prince George Cougars picked up just one out of a possible four points as they dropped both games of their doubleheader against the Portland Winterhawks. The Winterhawks took the opener 4-3 in a shootout before 3,858 fans and then whipped the Cats 8-2 in front of a crowd of 2,972. The 20-24-1-1 Cougars remain 3rd in the WHL BC Division despite a five game losing skid. They are two points ahead of the Vancouver Giants and four in front of the last place Kamloops Blazers. The Cougars continue their home-stand against the US Division leading Everett Silvertips Tuesday and Wednesday.
–The Major Midget leading Cariboo Cougars scored twice in the final two minutes to beat the South Island Royals 5-4 and sweep the doubleheader in Victoria. Cariboo won the opener 4-0 on Saturday. The 25-4-1 Cougars play
the Valley West Hawks Saturday and Sunday in Richmond.
–Megan Heinicke of Prince George capped off her most successful Biathlon World Cup week with a 23rd place finish in the women’s 12.5 kilometre mass start race held in Ruhpolding, Germany. The top-30 biathletes in the world participated. It was the first time the 26-year-old Heinicke qualified to compete in the mass start competition.
–The UNBC Timberwolves men’s basketball team split its home doubleheader against the TRU Wolfpack of Kamloops in Canada West action. UNBC took the opener 83-81 on a three pointer from Michael Smith with 1.9 seconds left and TRU came back with an 81-71 victory. In women’s play, first place TRU dumped the last place Lady Timberwolves twice: 62-44 and 75-53. UNBC is 5-7 (men) and 1-11 (women) while TRU sits 7-5 (men) and 11-1 (women). The Timberwolves visit Mount Royal Friday and Saturday and host MacEwan Jan 30 and 31.
Canada West Basketball Explorer Division:
(Men’s standings) Top 3 make the playoffs
Fraser Valley 12-0
TRU 7-5
Mount Royal 6-6
UNBC 5-7
MacEwan 4-8
UBC Okanagan 2-10
(Women’s standings) Top 3 make the playoffs
TRU 11-1
MacEwan 10-2
Fraser Valley 6-6
Mount Royal 4-8
UBC Okanagan 4-8
UNBC 1-11
–Prince George Youth Soccer Association will move from its historical May, June and September schedule format to a 10-week continuous schedule, beginning May 2 and concluding July 11th. The annual Score-a-thon and Active Start Soccer Fest weekend will be held on June 27-28th.
