The Prince George Cougars posted their third straight victory to qualify for the playoffs for the first time in four years. The Cougars beat the Kamloops Blazers 3-1 before a crowd of 4,570 on fan appreciation night at CN Centre. First star Ty Edmonds made 36 saves for the Cats while third star Connor Ingram blocked 38 shots for the Blazers. Kody McDonald tallied the winner just 35 seconds into the third period. The two teams close out the regular season tonight in Kamloops. The Blazers are two points behind the Tri-City Americans for a wild card spot. The Americans, coming off a 4-2 win over Portland, host Spokane tonight and visit Portland Sunday.
–After finishing 3rd in the BC Division, the Prince George Cougars will face the second place Victoria Royals in the best of 7 Western Conference quarter-final series. The dates are March 27th and 28th in Victoria, April 1st and 2nd in P.G., and if necessary, April 4th in Victoria, April 6th in P.G. and April 8th in Victoria.
–The PG Cougars handed out their 2014-15 Awards. The winners are listed below:
Dan Hamhuis Award For Most Valuable Player – JANSEN HARKINS
Eric Brewer Award For Defensive Player of the Year – SAM RUOPP
Troy Bourke Award For Offensive Player of the Year – ZACH POCHIRO
Dr. Jeff Zorn Award For Scholastic Player of the Year – SHANE COLLINS
Brett Connolly Award For Rookie of the Year – JARED BETHUNE
Chris Mason Award For 3 Star Selections – TY EDMONDS
Dorothy Johnson Memorial For Fan Favorite Award – CHASE WITALA
Michael Fogolin Memorial For Player’s Vote Award – TYLER MRKONJIC
–Citing family reasons, Dave Dupas has resigned as head coach of the Prince George Spruce Kings. Dupas was behind the bench for 4 1/2 seasons and this year guided the team to its first playoff series victory in 10 years.
“Dave came into a difficult situation when he was initially hired and was able to adapt well. He started laying the ground work for changing the team’s culture immediately and the players responded well to him” said Spruce Kings General Manager Mike Hawes.
Dupas’ home is in West Kelowna and his wife Theresa, and sons DJ and Christian remained in the Okanagan community while he was in Prince George coaching the Spruce Kings.
–The Vancouver Northeast Chiefs erased a 2-0 deficit to beat the regular season champion Cariboo Cougars 5-3 in the opener of the best of three BCMML final. Game two will be played this afternoon at 1:30 at Kin 1 with a third game, if needed, Sunday morning at 10.
–The Northern Cougars welcome the Fraser Valley Phantom to the Kin Centre for the best of three final in the B.C. Female Midget Triple A Hockey League final. The first two games will take to the ice today at 8:45 a.m. & 5 p.m. with a third game, if necessary, Sunday at 11:45 a.m.
–In the BCHL playoffs, Powell River doubled Nanaimo 4-2 to tie the best of seven Island Division final 3-3 and Vernon edged Penticton 4-3 in overtime to take a 3-2 lead in the Interior final.
–The BC Minor Hockey Provincials are complete. PG Coast Inn finished 3rd out of 7 with a 4-2 record at the Midget Tier 1 in Comox. PG won its last game 4-0 over Nanaimo.
–Host PG ended at the Peewee Tier 2 at Kin 1. The tournament was won by Cranbrook who beat the Burnaby Winter Club 8-5 in the final.
–Around the province, PG minor rep hockey teams finished 0-4-1 at the Bantam Tier 1 in Rutland, 1-2 at the Bantam Tier 2 in Cranbrook, 0-5 at the Peewee Tier 1 in South Surrey and 0-5 at the Peewee Female in West Vancouver.
–PG’s Meryeta O’Dine was the third best Canadian and 10th overall at the FIS World Junior Snowboard Cross Championships in China. O’Dine also finished 7th in women’s team snowboard along with her partner from Ontario.
Photo: Courtesy of the Prince George Cougars
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