puckmam
01-21-2008, 05:23 AM
http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=113714&Itemid=564
No wins on road for Cats (0)
(Sports) Sunday, 20 January 2008, 23:38 PST
JIM SWANSON, Citizen Sports Editor
The bottom line still matters, but there is a bigger picture at play.
As the Prince George Cougars limped home from another point-free road trip, one that collected regulation losses in Kamloops, Kelowna and Seattle, the realization that this season will not result in playoff games was setting in.The Cougars, now 17 points out of the Western Conference post-season picture, lost 6-3 in Kelowna on Saturday and 5-1 in Seattle the next night. The setback in Kamloops on Friday was by a 5-2 score. If this Prince George team (14-32-1-1), the youngest club in the WHL, does in fact grow into something special in the years to come, no one will be able to say it came without harsh lessons.
“School is in,” Cougars coach Drew Schoneck said Sunday as the team started the trek north from Seattle. “Of the three games, we played our best in Kelowna. We had some tough breaks and tough calls, but we competed and battled hard and that was a real positive sign because (the Rockets) have handed it to us and have had some pretty easy games against us.
“We’re still trying to do too much, but it’s a process. We’re looking for little things with our team to get better. We have to be a better ‘team,’ supportive, whether it’s a scrum (after the whistle) or supporting each other on the puck. We have to become five-man units on the ice and 20 guys on the bench supporting everyone.”
Since the Cougars reached the .500 mark on Nov. 4, their record is 5-23-1-1. The playoff goal is not mathematically dead, but the language around the team is changing.
“First and foremost, I want to state that we want to win hockey games, and under no circumstances is it OK to lose,” said Schoneck.
“But I also understand our situation. We’ve been operating (as though the playoffs are a longshot) for the last bit, and we haven’t had much practice time with this new group -- only three full, to this point. Everybody’s on a 25-game tryout, and they have to show us something to earn a spot next year. We have some pretty good (15-year-olds) who are going to get a chance to play here, so no one should be taking their icetime for granted.”
Bud Holloway and Greg Scott staked Seattle to a 2-0 lead in the first period Sunday, then David Richard and Holloway extended it to 4-0 after 40 minutes. Dana Tyrell got the Cats on the board in the third period, with rookie defenceman Matt Cumming earning his first WHL point, before Sena Acolatse of the T-birds completed the scoring.
Real Cyr faced 48 shots, 32 of them in the first two periods. Seattle goaltender Riku Helenius stopped 26 shots.
In Kelowna, the Cougars stopped three of the Rockets’ lines cold -- but not the top one, as Jamie Benn, Brady Leavold and Colin Long, the WHL’s scoring leader, combined for 15 points. Benn had two goals and six points, Leavold had four goals and an assist, and Long compiled four helpers.
Brad Riege, Jan Kupec and Patrik Magnusson had the goals for the Cougars. It is the play of Kupec and Magnusson, the team’s imports, that has impressed Schoneck the most lately. As much as anyone, they are on in-season tryouts for a spot on next year’s team.
“Both guys had excellent weekends, and this was the best I’ve seen Jan play,” said Schoneck.
“He’s sticking his nose in, getting to the net, and he scored a couple goals through hard work. Patrik, same thing, he’s stepped up since Ty Wishart and Jesse Dudas were removed (through trades), and he’s had to. Both those guys recognize the opportunity to play more. In Jan’s case, we have to get him to realize he has to be better from our blueline in.
“(15-year-old defenceman) Bruin McDonald played very well for us in the two games he played (Kamloops-Kelowna), so there’s another bright spot and something we can look forward to. He got regular icetime in both games.”
The Cougars are taking today off to rest after the trip, then get back to practice on Tuesday to prepare for the Wednesday-Thursday home dates against the Everett Silvertips. Schoneck said Art Bidlevskii (separated shoulder, at least two weeks) and Trevor Bauer (concussion) likely won’t be available, while rookie winger Ryan Kowalski (concussion) will be evaluated this week.
No wins on road for Cats (0)
(Sports) Sunday, 20 January 2008, 23:38 PST
JIM SWANSON, Citizen Sports Editor
The bottom line still matters, but there is a bigger picture at play.
As the Prince George Cougars limped home from another point-free road trip, one that collected regulation losses in Kamloops, Kelowna and Seattle, the realization that this season will not result in playoff games was setting in.The Cougars, now 17 points out of the Western Conference post-season picture, lost 6-3 in Kelowna on Saturday and 5-1 in Seattle the next night. The setback in Kamloops on Friday was by a 5-2 score. If this Prince George team (14-32-1-1), the youngest club in the WHL, does in fact grow into something special in the years to come, no one will be able to say it came without harsh lessons.
“School is in,” Cougars coach Drew Schoneck said Sunday as the team started the trek north from Seattle. “Of the three games, we played our best in Kelowna. We had some tough breaks and tough calls, but we competed and battled hard and that was a real positive sign because (the Rockets) have handed it to us and have had some pretty easy games against us.
“We’re still trying to do too much, but it’s a process. We’re looking for little things with our team to get better. We have to be a better ‘team,’ supportive, whether it’s a scrum (after the whistle) or supporting each other on the puck. We have to become five-man units on the ice and 20 guys on the bench supporting everyone.”
Since the Cougars reached the .500 mark on Nov. 4, their record is 5-23-1-1. The playoff goal is not mathematically dead, but the language around the team is changing.
“First and foremost, I want to state that we want to win hockey games, and under no circumstances is it OK to lose,” said Schoneck.
“But I also understand our situation. We’ve been operating (as though the playoffs are a longshot) for the last bit, and we haven’t had much practice time with this new group -- only three full, to this point. Everybody’s on a 25-game tryout, and they have to show us something to earn a spot next year. We have some pretty good (15-year-olds) who are going to get a chance to play here, so no one should be taking their icetime for granted.”
Bud Holloway and Greg Scott staked Seattle to a 2-0 lead in the first period Sunday, then David Richard and Holloway extended it to 4-0 after 40 minutes. Dana Tyrell got the Cats on the board in the third period, with rookie defenceman Matt Cumming earning his first WHL point, before Sena Acolatse of the T-birds completed the scoring.
Real Cyr faced 48 shots, 32 of them in the first two periods. Seattle goaltender Riku Helenius stopped 26 shots.
In Kelowna, the Cougars stopped three of the Rockets’ lines cold -- but not the top one, as Jamie Benn, Brady Leavold and Colin Long, the WHL’s scoring leader, combined for 15 points. Benn had two goals and six points, Leavold had four goals and an assist, and Long compiled four helpers.
Brad Riege, Jan Kupec and Patrik Magnusson had the goals for the Cougars. It is the play of Kupec and Magnusson, the team’s imports, that has impressed Schoneck the most lately. As much as anyone, they are on in-season tryouts for a spot on next year’s team.
“Both guys had excellent weekends, and this was the best I’ve seen Jan play,” said Schoneck.
“He’s sticking his nose in, getting to the net, and he scored a couple goals through hard work. Patrik, same thing, he’s stepped up since Ty Wishart and Jesse Dudas were removed (through trades), and he’s had to. Both those guys recognize the opportunity to play more. In Jan’s case, we have to get him to realize he has to be better from our blueline in.
“(15-year-old defenceman) Bruin McDonald played very well for us in the two games he played (Kamloops-Kelowna), so there’s another bright spot and something we can look forward to. He got regular icetime in both games.”
The Cougars are taking today off to rest after the trip, then get back to practice on Tuesday to prepare for the Wednesday-Thursday home dates against the Everett Silvertips. Schoneck said Art Bidlevskii (separated shoulder, at least two weeks) and Trevor Bauer (concussion) likely won’t be available, while rookie winger Ryan Kowalski (concussion) will be evaluated this week.