Sput
04-19-2007, 01:15 AM
from www.princegeorgecitizen.com
Cougars gearing up for Giant test
JASON PETERS,Citizen staff
They have beaten the No. 1-ranked team in the Canadian Hockey League. The Prince George Cougars must now figure out how to get past a club that has stocked its dressing room for a guaranteed shot at winning the top prize in major junior hockey.
When the Cougars knocked the powerful Everett Silvertips out of the WHL playoffs Monday night at CN Centre with an 8-2 victory, they earned a date with the Vancouver Giants, hosts of this year's Memorial Cup showdown.
Games 1 and 2 of the Western Conference final between the Cougars and Giants will be played Friday and Saturday in Vancouver. The following two games will unfold at CN Centre next Tuesday and Wednesday. By late Tuesday afternoon, more than 5,000 tickets had been sold for both of those home dates.
"The biggest difference (between Everett and Vancouver) is, Vancouver will be a more physical hockey club," said Cougars coach Drew Schoneck. "It's been a physical matchup every time we've played them. And they've been to the Western Hockey League final. There are lots of guys there who have been to the Memorial Cup. They've got a lot of late-round experience. Our guys, not so much, but we just have to keep riding our momentum and playing hard."
And the Cougars do have momentum. In the final four periods against Everett, they outscored the Silvertips 12-2. Heading into the WHL conference finals, the Cats have the league's top three playoff point producers in Devin Setoguchi (10 goals, eight assists, 18 points), Jared Walker (6-11-17) and Nick Drazenovic (9-7-16).
Chris Durand of the Cougars is 19th in the scoring chase with two goals and nine assists. All four Prince George players have appeared in all 10 playoff games to date.
The Giants are being led offensively by Kenndal McArdle, Spencer Machacek and Michal Repik, who are currently seventh, 14th and 16th in the post-season points chase. McArdle, a member of this year's Canadian world junior team, has six goals and 13 points in 10 games. Machacek, also in 10 games, has produced seven goals and 11 points. As for Repik, he has scored five times for the Giants and has added six helpers for 11 points in 10 outings.
The Giants used five games to dispose of the Chilliwack Bruins in the first round and then eliminated the Seattle Thunderbirds in the second round, also in five games.
The Medicine Hat Tigers and Calgary Hitmen will clash in the Eastern Conference final.
Cougars gearing up for Giant test
JASON PETERS,Citizen staff
They have beaten the No. 1-ranked team in the Canadian Hockey League. The Prince George Cougars must now figure out how to get past a club that has stocked its dressing room for a guaranteed shot at winning the top prize in major junior hockey.
When the Cougars knocked the powerful Everett Silvertips out of the WHL playoffs Monday night at CN Centre with an 8-2 victory, they earned a date with the Vancouver Giants, hosts of this year's Memorial Cup showdown.
Games 1 and 2 of the Western Conference final between the Cougars and Giants will be played Friday and Saturday in Vancouver. The following two games will unfold at CN Centre next Tuesday and Wednesday. By late Tuesday afternoon, more than 5,000 tickets had been sold for both of those home dates.
"The biggest difference (between Everett and Vancouver) is, Vancouver will be a more physical hockey club," said Cougars coach Drew Schoneck. "It's been a physical matchup every time we've played them. And they've been to the Western Hockey League final. There are lots of guys there who have been to the Memorial Cup. They've got a lot of late-round experience. Our guys, not so much, but we just have to keep riding our momentum and playing hard."
And the Cougars do have momentum. In the final four periods against Everett, they outscored the Silvertips 12-2. Heading into the WHL conference finals, the Cats have the league's top three playoff point producers in Devin Setoguchi (10 goals, eight assists, 18 points), Jared Walker (6-11-17) and Nick Drazenovic (9-7-16).
Chris Durand of the Cougars is 19th in the scoring chase with two goals and nine assists. All four Prince George players have appeared in all 10 playoff games to date.
The Giants are being led offensively by Kenndal McArdle, Spencer Machacek and Michal Repik, who are currently seventh, 14th and 16th in the post-season points chase. McArdle, a member of this year's Canadian world junior team, has six goals and 13 points in 10 games. Machacek, also in 10 games, has produced seven goals and 11 points. As for Repik, he has scored five times for the Giants and has added six helpers for 11 points in 10 outings.
The Giants used five games to dispose of the Chilliwack Bruins in the first round and then eliminated the Seattle Thunderbirds in the second round, also in five games.
The Medicine Hat Tigers and Calgary Hitmen will clash in the Eastern Conference final.