nivek_wahs
03-22-2007, 03:39 AM
http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/news/current/n_empty.php?sid=1436751
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Cats prep for 'second season'
by JIM SWANSON, Citizen Sports Editor
The Prince George Cougars have been presented with an opportunity — one lined with gold.
A season marked by inconsistency can be swept into the past with a strong playoff showing. That work starts Friday in Kamloops, where the Cats open a best-of-seven first-round series against the rival Blazers.
“We were a team that greatly underachieved in the first half and at the start of the season we had sights of home-ice in the playoffs in our minds,” said Cougars captain Eric Hunter, who has played 10 playoff games in his previous four WHL seasons.
“It’s nice to finally gain respect, not that we deserved it earlier in the year when we weren’t playing to our capabilities. It’s a motivating factor for us that we let that slip away, and we’re playing Kamloops, so there’s no worry getting up for those games.”
Hunter is comfortable with his team’s status as favourites to win the series despite starting on the road and not having home-ice advantage. The Cats have played well in 2007, posting a 19-12-1-2 record from Jan. 1 on, while the struggles of the Blazers were well-chronicled, going 4-13-3-1 since Feb. 1.
“We have some guys who really picked it up in the second half,” said Hunter.
“Devin Setoguchi took his play to another level since getting over his knee injury. Guys like Greg Gardner and Dana Tyrell were outstanding and instrumental for us in the second half.”
The Cougars are ready to deal with Kamloops captain Reid Jorgensen, who did not play the last three meetings between the two clubs. Jorgensen had eight goals in seven games against Prince George, and will be ready to go — but how rusty he is after three weeks to have elbow surgery is the question.
“He’s the leader and the guy they go to, but it takes 20 guys in the lineup every night to win hockey games,” said Schoneck.
“We want to make sure we limit his opportunities and look after our jobs because he’s been dangerous against us.”
Schoneck is not expecting this to be a line-matching series, though he is ready if Kamloops tries to get the same forward unit out against Devin Setoguchi’s line.
“From my side, there won’t be a lot of line-matching because I’m confident in all four lines that they can get the job done,” said Schoneck.
“I haven’t done much line-matching all year because we’re an older team and our forwards have to be able to handle the situations they’re put in. They may have a special matchup they want — I won’t be surprised if they want Jorgensen’s line because they may feel there’s a deficiency in that line or can control the puck more than that line.
“We’ll evaluate it as we go if we have to switch things up and start matching personnel. We do want to have (Ty Wishart) and (Vladimir Mihalik) out there against Jorgensen because they’re big guys who can move with them.”
Schoneck said the Cougars are preparing as though defenceman Ray Macias, who had 30 goals and 40 assists this season, will play.
“He’s one of their horses and he’d see extra attention because he scores nice goals for them and really carries the mail,” said Schoneck.
“If he isn’t in, we’ll deal with that. We’ll know Friday come warmup time if he’s in.”
Schoneck hinted that Real Cyr will get the call in net on Friday, but wouldn’t say more. Scott Bowles played every minute of a five-game series loss to Vancouver last spring and kept the Cougars in four of the games.
“There is a guy who has had good success in Kamloops over the last few years and he’ll probably be the guy who sees Game 1,” said the coach.
“Our goaltenders have been good, and our team has been good about going back and forth with them. I think we’ll want to get one guy carrying the load rather than alternating.”
n Jesse Dudas remains the only real injury concern for the Cougars. The team is only saying now that the defenceman will be joining the club in Kamloops and may not play to start the series.
Having a healthy lineup is something new in Prince George. The last few years has brought more news from sick bay than any other area.
“You’ll take injuries every week of the year to be healthy for playoffs,” said Hunter.
“The last couple of years it’s been a grind to get into the playoffs, but this year we’re there and we had a chance to rest some guys. Ty Wishart is as close to healthy as he’s been in a long time, and it will be up to guys like him and Kalvin Sagert to grab the bull by the horns. With what Sags, Wish and (Vladimir Mihalik) can do in their minutes, getting their jobs done will help the rest of the group.”
©Copyright 2007 Prince George Citizen
Thursday, March 22, 2007
Cats prep for 'second season'
by JIM SWANSON, Citizen Sports Editor
The Prince George Cougars have been presented with an opportunity — one lined with gold.
A season marked by inconsistency can be swept into the past with a strong playoff showing. That work starts Friday in Kamloops, where the Cats open a best-of-seven first-round series against the rival Blazers.
“We were a team that greatly underachieved in the first half and at the start of the season we had sights of home-ice in the playoffs in our minds,” said Cougars captain Eric Hunter, who has played 10 playoff games in his previous four WHL seasons.
“It’s nice to finally gain respect, not that we deserved it earlier in the year when we weren’t playing to our capabilities. It’s a motivating factor for us that we let that slip away, and we’re playing Kamloops, so there’s no worry getting up for those games.”
Hunter is comfortable with his team’s status as favourites to win the series despite starting on the road and not having home-ice advantage. The Cats have played well in 2007, posting a 19-12-1-2 record from Jan. 1 on, while the struggles of the Blazers were well-chronicled, going 4-13-3-1 since Feb. 1.
“We have some guys who really picked it up in the second half,” said Hunter.
“Devin Setoguchi took his play to another level since getting over his knee injury. Guys like Greg Gardner and Dana Tyrell were outstanding and instrumental for us in the second half.”
The Cougars are ready to deal with Kamloops captain Reid Jorgensen, who did not play the last three meetings between the two clubs. Jorgensen had eight goals in seven games against Prince George, and will be ready to go — but how rusty he is after three weeks to have elbow surgery is the question.
“He’s the leader and the guy they go to, but it takes 20 guys in the lineup every night to win hockey games,” said Schoneck.
“We want to make sure we limit his opportunities and look after our jobs because he’s been dangerous against us.”
Schoneck is not expecting this to be a line-matching series, though he is ready if Kamloops tries to get the same forward unit out against Devin Setoguchi’s line.
“From my side, there won’t be a lot of line-matching because I’m confident in all four lines that they can get the job done,” said Schoneck.
“I haven’t done much line-matching all year because we’re an older team and our forwards have to be able to handle the situations they’re put in. They may have a special matchup they want — I won’t be surprised if they want Jorgensen’s line because they may feel there’s a deficiency in that line or can control the puck more than that line.
“We’ll evaluate it as we go if we have to switch things up and start matching personnel. We do want to have (Ty Wishart) and (Vladimir Mihalik) out there against Jorgensen because they’re big guys who can move with them.”
Schoneck said the Cougars are preparing as though defenceman Ray Macias, who had 30 goals and 40 assists this season, will play.
“He’s one of their horses and he’d see extra attention because he scores nice goals for them and really carries the mail,” said Schoneck.
“If he isn’t in, we’ll deal with that. We’ll know Friday come warmup time if he’s in.”
Schoneck hinted that Real Cyr will get the call in net on Friday, but wouldn’t say more. Scott Bowles played every minute of a five-game series loss to Vancouver last spring and kept the Cougars in four of the games.
“There is a guy who has had good success in Kamloops over the last few years and he’ll probably be the guy who sees Game 1,” said the coach.
“Our goaltenders have been good, and our team has been good about going back and forth with them. I think we’ll want to get one guy carrying the load rather than alternating.”
n Jesse Dudas remains the only real injury concern for the Cougars. The team is only saying now that the defenceman will be joining the club in Kamloops and may not play to start the series.
Having a healthy lineup is something new in Prince George. The last few years has brought more news from sick bay than any other area.
“You’ll take injuries every week of the year to be healthy for playoffs,” said Hunter.
“The last couple of years it’s been a grind to get into the playoffs, but this year we’re there and we had a chance to rest some guys. Ty Wishart is as close to healthy as he’s been in a long time, and it will be up to guys like him and Kalvin Sagert to grab the bull by the horns. With what Sags, Wish and (Vladimir Mihalik) can do in their minutes, getting their jobs done will help the rest of the group.”
©Copyright 2007 Prince George Citizen