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12-29-2007, 06:41 AM

http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=110236&Itemid=564

Cyr blocks all against Bruins (0)
(Sports) Saturday, 29 December 2007, 01:00 PST
JIM SWANSON, Citizen Sports Editor
That’s the Real Cyr the Prince George Cougars really need if they’re going to make a charge in the second half.

The veteran goaltender stopped 31 shots, the key save being a breakaway stoning of Brandon Campos in the second period, and the Cougars got the only goal they’d need to beat the Chilliwack Bruins 1-0 on Friday.

Ty Wishart scored on a third-period power play, his 11th of the season and eighth with the man-advantage, to provide the difference.

“For the first game back after Christmas, I thought both teams looked pretty good - not much rust, although the wind was a factor for a few players,” said Cougars head coach Drew Schoneck.

“It was hard-fought and we played well when the game was on the line.”

The shutout was the 13th career one for Cyr, extending his franchise record, but just his first this season.

Remember the pre-season formula this inexperienced team was going to use to win games? It was planned that standout goaltending, provided by Cyr, and winning special teams battles, that old Kelowna system, could lead the Cats to the playoffs. It took 37 games, but that gameplan finally appeared.

“We had some good practices coming back (from the holiday break) and guys were ready to get going - I thought it showed,” said Cyr, 20.

“I thought we’d be more rusty, but we worked hard and put one in when we had to. The guys kept their shooters to the outside. That’s how we were supposed to be doing things this year, but in the first half of the year it just wasn’t clicking. It seemed like when some things were going well, one area would let us down. Today, it all came together.

“We have to realize this is just one game and we have to keep it going.”

The Cougars, who improved to 13-23-1-0, still nine points out of a playoff spot because Kamloops won in Kelowna on Friday, came into the game with the WHL’s worst penalty kill record, while Chilliwack had the league’s best road power play. The Cougars won that battle, stuffing the Bruins on five chances, the most important caused by a delay of game minor given to veteran defenceman Kalvin Sagert with six minutes remaining in the third.

“Our penalty kill has been a sore point with our team through the first half, and we found a way to get that kill,” said Schoneck, whose team has won four of its last 19 games after being at .500 in early November. “That was an important part of the game.”

The way this game went, it wasn’t hard to imagine the first scoreless tie in the shootout era. The goaltenders, Cyr and Chilliwack rookie Mark Friesen, were equal to every challenge, but the shooters contributed negatively to the scoring drought. Bruins centre Mark Santorelli, the WHL scoring leader with 59 points, was a non-factor, invisible.

The game was scoreless through two periods, though the Cougars should’ve had at least one. Prince George forward Dana Tyrell, in a most uncharacteristic manner, made two gaffes on one play. First, he had the puck in the Chilliwack crease, behind Friesen, but missed the wide-open mesh when his shot hit the post. Then, instead of that usual all-out Tyrell effort, he didn’t chase the puck, deciding instead to lope away with the body language of a player both embarrassed and defeated.

Fortunately for the Cats, it wouldn’t turn into the night’s biggest turning point.

“They had chances too that were fumbled and bounced wide, and it was that kind of game,” said Schoneck. “It sure would’ve been nice to get the extra one, that’s for sure.”

The Bruins played without Prince George product Ryan Howse, the 16-year-old who helped Team Pacific to a 5-4 shootout win over the United States on Friday at the world under-17 challenge tournament in London, Ont. More importantly, Chilliwack was without winger Oscar Moller, who was tied for second in the WHL in goals entering Friday’s action with 25. Moller, who has nine goals in five games against the Cougars this season, will be trying to lead Sweden past Canada this morning at the world juniors in the Czech Republic.

The Cougars and Bruins meet again tonight at CN Centre.

KITTY LITTER: Announced attendance was 3,181... Friday was the first game in P.G. for two players who were once Cougars property. Defenceman Chris Vanduynhoven was traded to Chilliwack a month ago, while Evan Pighin was picked up by the Bruins in November from the BCHL. The Cougars acquired Pighin from Red Deer over the summer along with Alex Poulter, but Pighin spurned Prince George... The Bruins called up centre Kevin Sundher, 15, from the major midget Valley West Hawks. The Hawks are playing in the Richmond International tournament while Sundher, the seventh-overall choice in the 2007 bantam draft made his WHL debut... Chilliwack has also added 16-year-old blueliner Scott Ramsay (fourth round, 2006) from Princeton of the KIJHL... Referee Derek Herman, consistently the most perplexing official in the league, was guilty of a blatant non-call when Alex Poulter was dumped by two Bruins on a second period rush, then applied the time-tested makeup call seconds later by sending Chilliwack defenceman Cody Hobbs to the box. About as bad was an interference call given to Jordie Deagle in the third - all Deagle was doing was fighting for a loose puck near the crease.]