nivek_wahs
04-23-2007, 03:07 AM
http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=57029&Itemid=160
Bowles or Cyr? Tough call for Tuesday game
JIM SWANSON, Citizen Sports Editor
(Sports) Monday, 23 April 2007, 00:59 PST
VANCOUVER -- Drew Schoneck has a goaltending decision to make.
Determining which goalie gets the call for the Prince George Cougars’ crucial playoff game on Tuesday is going to cost the head coach some sleep.
On the one hand, he’s got Real Cyr, who has started seven games in a row, but was given a rest after giving up four goals on nine shots in Saturday’s 6-2 loss to the Vancouver Giants. Vancouver holds a 2-0 lead in the WHL’s Western Conference final with Games 3 and 4 set for CN Centre.
The other option is a good one. Overager Scott Bowles replaced Cyr for the final 40 minutes and played extremely well, stopping 19 of 21 shots and holding on to whatever slim hopes his team had of rebounding from a 4-0 deficit.
“The four goals, you can’t fault Cyr on those, but I thought Bowles came in and played really well,” said Schoneck. “We’ll see. We’ll take our time with it.”
Cyr is 8-3 in these playoffs with a 2.91 goals-against average and .910 save percentage, those numbers taking a hit Saturday. Bowles has appeared in two games, including the starting game of the second-round series with Everett, posting a 3.02 average and .909 save percentage.
Of note, Bowles is the only one of the two to beat the Giants this season, and he outright stole a game at Pacific Coliseum in last year’s playoffs, posting a shutout in Game 2 that gave the Cougars their only win of that series.
“Cyr earned the right to get all those starts,” said Schoneck, whose biggest hint about the starting role was that Jordan White won’t be the guy. “Scott has handled himself very well.”
The two are very good friends and supportive teammates, that fact never more apparent than when Cyr was seen beaming on his team’s bench after Bowles made a spectacular glove recovery late in Saturday’s game.
“I think I felt as good as I’m going to feel for not being in the action for so long,” said Bowles. “The way you want it to be is to make it a tough decision. That’s a good place to be in for the coaching staff, and as far as the team’s concerned. I’ve prepared the same way every day, so both of us will be ready.
“It hasn’t been tough, it’s been enjoyable. I got to play in a game (against Everett), and it’s my last year so I’ve had a chance to sit back and take it in. The way things were in Everett, and with the P.G. fans, I’ve gained an appreciation and you can notice more things when you’re not playing.”
SCOUTS ON PATROL -- With the provincial Best Ever camp in Mission, the weekend games were overrun with WHL big-wigs. Saskatoon coach-GM Lorne Molleken and Kamloops counterpart Dean Clark were among those at Friday’s Cougars-Giants game, while the Cats had a full complement of scouts in the area. Head scout Russ Smart, director of player personnel Daryl Lubiniecki, owner Rick Brodsky, and scouts Kelly Kursteiner, Jason Garneau, Hugh Scobie, Kevin Persson and Dan DePalma were in the Lower Mainland pulling double duty... Watch for a major feature on Schoneck in the Calgary Herald in the coming days. Schoneck, originally from Abbey, Sask., was a star at the University of Calgary in his days as a defenceman... One of the side stories with this series is the battle for hometown bragging rights between Cougars general manager/assistant coach Dallas Thompson and Giants rookie Lance Bouma, who both hail from the ranching community of Provost, Alta. The Thompson and Bouma families know each other well -- Thompson and Bouma’s uncle Rod Paulgaard are good friends, and Thompson worked on Bouma’s grandfather’s farm when Thompson was in his teens around the time Bouma was born. Bouma’s father is the butcher in Provost.
Bowles or Cyr? Tough call for Tuesday game
JIM SWANSON, Citizen Sports Editor
(Sports) Monday, 23 April 2007, 00:59 PST
VANCOUVER -- Drew Schoneck has a goaltending decision to make.
Determining which goalie gets the call for the Prince George Cougars’ crucial playoff game on Tuesday is going to cost the head coach some sleep.
On the one hand, he’s got Real Cyr, who has started seven games in a row, but was given a rest after giving up four goals on nine shots in Saturday’s 6-2 loss to the Vancouver Giants. Vancouver holds a 2-0 lead in the WHL’s Western Conference final with Games 3 and 4 set for CN Centre.
The other option is a good one. Overager Scott Bowles replaced Cyr for the final 40 minutes and played extremely well, stopping 19 of 21 shots and holding on to whatever slim hopes his team had of rebounding from a 4-0 deficit.
“The four goals, you can’t fault Cyr on those, but I thought Bowles came in and played really well,” said Schoneck. “We’ll see. We’ll take our time with it.”
Cyr is 8-3 in these playoffs with a 2.91 goals-against average and .910 save percentage, those numbers taking a hit Saturday. Bowles has appeared in two games, including the starting game of the second-round series with Everett, posting a 3.02 average and .909 save percentage.
Of note, Bowles is the only one of the two to beat the Giants this season, and he outright stole a game at Pacific Coliseum in last year’s playoffs, posting a shutout in Game 2 that gave the Cougars their only win of that series.
“Cyr earned the right to get all those starts,” said Schoneck, whose biggest hint about the starting role was that Jordan White won’t be the guy. “Scott has handled himself very well.”
The two are very good friends and supportive teammates, that fact never more apparent than when Cyr was seen beaming on his team’s bench after Bowles made a spectacular glove recovery late in Saturday’s game.
“I think I felt as good as I’m going to feel for not being in the action for so long,” said Bowles. “The way you want it to be is to make it a tough decision. That’s a good place to be in for the coaching staff, and as far as the team’s concerned. I’ve prepared the same way every day, so both of us will be ready.
“It hasn’t been tough, it’s been enjoyable. I got to play in a game (against Everett), and it’s my last year so I’ve had a chance to sit back and take it in. The way things were in Everett, and with the P.G. fans, I’ve gained an appreciation and you can notice more things when you’re not playing.”
SCOUTS ON PATROL -- With the provincial Best Ever camp in Mission, the weekend games were overrun with WHL big-wigs. Saskatoon coach-GM Lorne Molleken and Kamloops counterpart Dean Clark were among those at Friday’s Cougars-Giants game, while the Cats had a full complement of scouts in the area. Head scout Russ Smart, director of player personnel Daryl Lubiniecki, owner Rick Brodsky, and scouts Kelly Kursteiner, Jason Garneau, Hugh Scobie, Kevin Persson and Dan DePalma were in the Lower Mainland pulling double duty... Watch for a major feature on Schoneck in the Calgary Herald in the coming days. Schoneck, originally from Abbey, Sask., was a star at the University of Calgary in his days as a defenceman... One of the side stories with this series is the battle for hometown bragging rights between Cougars general manager/assistant coach Dallas Thompson and Giants rookie Lance Bouma, who both hail from the ranching community of Provost, Alta. The Thompson and Bouma families know each other well -- Thompson and Bouma’s uncle Rod Paulgaard are good friends, and Thompson worked on Bouma’s grandfather’s farm when Thompson was in his teens around the time Bouma was born. Bouma’s father is the butcher in Provost.