Sput
01-10-2007, 12:12 PM
Coutresy of: www.princegeorgecitizen.com
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Cougars beat up on Bruins
by JIM SWANSON Citizen Sports Editor
They beat ’em on the scoreboard, and they beat ’em in the alley.
The Prince George Cougars, in a game that could become a rallying point for this struggling hockey team, hammered the expansion Chilliwack Bruins 8-3 on Tuesday.
The game included a third-period line brawl that featured a scrap between the goaltenders, Real Cyr of the Cougars and Alex Archibald of the Bruins. Evan Fuller, Jordie Deagle, Chris Vanduynhoven, Greg Gardner and Kalvin Sagert also paired off for the Cougars in a series of incidents that could bring suspensions for players on both teams.
The Cougars, who were opening a four-game road trip Tuesday, are in Portland tonight. Games in Kelowna (Friday) and Kamloops (Saturday) close out the journey.
Cougars head coach Drew Schoneck hopes the situation is a character-builder for a squad that has not come close to expectations.
“I was happy with our effort, first and foremost, from the drop of the puck until everything happened and then beyond that,” said Schoneck.
“They got a couple of goals late, but our guys played the gameplan for the whole 60 minutes and stuck up for each other. We got the result we were looking for.
“The fights, things like that can make the six-hour bus ride (to Portland) seem shorter because you see the guys coming together. In the room after, they were all together and they were excited and hopefully we can build on that momentum. The message is to play the same way (tonight).”
This was a rough game from the start, with Fuller and Myles Stoesz, Chilliwack’s enforcer, fighting in the first period, and then Cougars import Richard Rapac surprised his teammates by dropping the gloves with Colby Kulhanek in the second period.
“Rapac fighting, that’s a case where guys are starting to look around and realize that we’re getting healthy again and they have to battle to stay in the lineup,” said Schoneck.
“It starts to become competitive, and guys want to win. More guys are chipping in, with goals, fights and big hits. A game like this is good all the way around for us.”
The scoring — and there was some of that, not just fights. Dana Tyrell, with two, Ty Wishart, Nick Drazenovic, Jared Walker, Deagle and first-timers Dale Hunt and Curtis Patterson, who both found the back of the net for the first time this season, handled the goal production for the Cougars (16-19-2-3, third in B.C. Division), who led 2-0 after one period and 5-1 after two.
Drazenovic had two assists for a three-point night. Lance Redden had two assists.
Oscar Moller, scoring late in the second period, Ken Petkau and rookie Colton Graf, playing his first WHL game, replied for the Bruins (12-28-2-2, last in the B.C. Division).
“It was big for Dale to score, because as a 16-year-old you start to put pressure on yourself to get that first goal,” said Schoneck.
“He’s had some chances, and hit some goal posts in games before Christmas. He keeps doing what we ask of him and it was nice to see him get rewarded for his hard work.”
Schoneck is wary that his team has not played well against lower-level teams, and that scenario rears its head again tonight in Portland, home to the team with the lowest point total in the league.
“I thought if that was going to rear its head, it would do it (in Chilliwack) because we haven’t always played well against (the Bruins),” said Schoneck.
“I think we’re starting to turn that corner because we’ve played two games against teams that are lower in the standings and we’ve stuck to our gameplan.”
n On the trade front, all was quiet Tuesday as not one deal was made in the WHL. Today is the trade deadline, 2 p.m., and the Cougars have nothing pending.
But that’s not to say Prince George won’t add a veteran piece to the roster. With a 20-year-old spot open, the Cougars will be watching the OHL waiver wire today because ex-Cats netminder Scott Bowles has been waived by the Windsor Spitfires and could make his way back to Prince George today.
The Cougars released Bowles, last season’s starting netminder, in October because of overage numbers, choosing to keep Eric Hunter, Walker and Brett Robertson. The latter was traded to Seattle on Boxing Day.
“We’re going to be active and try to fill that 20-year-old spot,” said Schoneck.
“It’s gotta be a guy who is good for the room, and will help our hockey club.”
Wednesday, January 10, 2007
Cougars beat up on Bruins
by JIM SWANSON Citizen Sports Editor
They beat ’em on the scoreboard, and they beat ’em in the alley.
The Prince George Cougars, in a game that could become a rallying point for this struggling hockey team, hammered the expansion Chilliwack Bruins 8-3 on Tuesday.
The game included a third-period line brawl that featured a scrap between the goaltenders, Real Cyr of the Cougars and Alex Archibald of the Bruins. Evan Fuller, Jordie Deagle, Chris Vanduynhoven, Greg Gardner and Kalvin Sagert also paired off for the Cougars in a series of incidents that could bring suspensions for players on both teams.
The Cougars, who were opening a four-game road trip Tuesday, are in Portland tonight. Games in Kelowna (Friday) and Kamloops (Saturday) close out the journey.
Cougars head coach Drew Schoneck hopes the situation is a character-builder for a squad that has not come close to expectations.
“I was happy with our effort, first and foremost, from the drop of the puck until everything happened and then beyond that,” said Schoneck.
“They got a couple of goals late, but our guys played the gameplan for the whole 60 minutes and stuck up for each other. We got the result we were looking for.
“The fights, things like that can make the six-hour bus ride (to Portland) seem shorter because you see the guys coming together. In the room after, they were all together and they were excited and hopefully we can build on that momentum. The message is to play the same way (tonight).”
This was a rough game from the start, with Fuller and Myles Stoesz, Chilliwack’s enforcer, fighting in the first period, and then Cougars import Richard Rapac surprised his teammates by dropping the gloves with Colby Kulhanek in the second period.
“Rapac fighting, that’s a case where guys are starting to look around and realize that we’re getting healthy again and they have to battle to stay in the lineup,” said Schoneck.
“It starts to become competitive, and guys want to win. More guys are chipping in, with goals, fights and big hits. A game like this is good all the way around for us.”
The scoring — and there was some of that, not just fights. Dana Tyrell, with two, Ty Wishart, Nick Drazenovic, Jared Walker, Deagle and first-timers Dale Hunt and Curtis Patterson, who both found the back of the net for the first time this season, handled the goal production for the Cougars (16-19-2-3, third in B.C. Division), who led 2-0 after one period and 5-1 after two.
Drazenovic had two assists for a three-point night. Lance Redden had two assists.
Oscar Moller, scoring late in the second period, Ken Petkau and rookie Colton Graf, playing his first WHL game, replied for the Bruins (12-28-2-2, last in the B.C. Division).
“It was big for Dale to score, because as a 16-year-old you start to put pressure on yourself to get that first goal,” said Schoneck.
“He’s had some chances, and hit some goal posts in games before Christmas. He keeps doing what we ask of him and it was nice to see him get rewarded for his hard work.”
Schoneck is wary that his team has not played well against lower-level teams, and that scenario rears its head again tonight in Portland, home to the team with the lowest point total in the league.
“I thought if that was going to rear its head, it would do it (in Chilliwack) because we haven’t always played well against (the Bruins),” said Schoneck.
“I think we’re starting to turn that corner because we’ve played two games against teams that are lower in the standings and we’ve stuck to our gameplan.”
n On the trade front, all was quiet Tuesday as not one deal was made in the WHL. Today is the trade deadline, 2 p.m., and the Cougars have nothing pending.
But that’s not to say Prince George won’t add a veteran piece to the roster. With a 20-year-old spot open, the Cougars will be watching the OHL waiver wire today because ex-Cats netminder Scott Bowles has been waived by the Windsor Spitfires and could make his way back to Prince George today.
The Cougars released Bowles, last season’s starting netminder, in October because of overage numbers, choosing to keep Eric Hunter, Walker and Brett Robertson. The latter was traded to Seattle on Boxing Day.
“We’re going to be active and try to fill that 20-year-old spot,” said Schoneck.
“It’s gotta be a guy who is good for the room, and will help our hockey club.”