It was anything but a Sunday fun day for the Cariboo Cougars.
The reigning BCMML champions had to claw back from a 3-1 deficit to defeat the winless South Island Royals 5-4 from Kin 1.
Cariboo starting goaltender Ryan Buchan was pulled late in the second period after giving up three goals on just 13 shots to Rowan Miller, Hunter Gruben and Michael Hoekstra.
Cougars Head Coach Tyler Brough says questionable decision making by the rookie netminder was the main reason behind the goalie switch.
“There were a couple plays on icings where we thought we had the other team hemmed in and they went to ice the puck and Ryan came out and played it, so I just wasn’t sure he was fully engaged in the game and for me, I thought we were still in the game down 3-1 with plenty of firepower to comeback and win.”
After the switch to Marcus Allen, the Cougars finally took control of the game by scoring four of the last five goals in the contest.
Brandon Dent led the way offensively for Cariboo with a 1 goal and 2 assists while Mason Richey, Jacob Gendron, and Hunter Floris (2) added the rest.
Brough believes Dent can be a game-changer for the major-midget Cats if he can continue to round out his game.
“Denter is a guy that is offensively gifted, he’s a guy that has to key on the defensive side of the game to be good but when he has the puck on his tape usually good things happen. He’s such a smart little hockey player when he has the puck in the offensive zone to restrict him in any way and when he has it on the power-play, it’s clicking pretty high.”
South Island was outshot 46-18.
The Cougars picked up a 5-1 win on Saturday during their Breast Cancer Awareness Night.
Dent, Floris, Paul Hauk, Brennan Malgunas and Riley Krane who recently returned from the WHL’s Regina Pats all the lit the in the win.
Seven of the 10 goals scored by Cariboo came on the man-advantage.
The Cougars improve their record to 9-2-1-0 and remain first overall in the league standings.
The Kootenay Ice will take on the Cats next weekend in Trail from the Cominco Arena.
