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scamperdog
09-22-2006, 06:30 AM
Cougars’ outlook looks bright www.princegeorgecitizen.com


by JIM SWANSON Citizen Sports Editor

It’s so noticeable, it’s like a mist, a puffy cloud, that somehow made its way into CN Centre.

Like no other season, there is an air of confidence, of optimism, of expectation, surrounding this year’s version of the Prince George Cougars. Is it also a weight of pressure? Not yet, but give it a few weeks until the first portion of the schedule, successful or not, is completed, before that answer comes to light.

There is no other evaluation of this edition of the Cougars — all the tools are there to make this club the best in franchise history. Scoring? Got it. Defence? Almost too much there, knock on a dead pine. Goaltending? Not a question. Depth? More than ever before. Coaching? The right people seem to be in the right place at the right time. Leadership? Well, considering seven players will wear letters, and at least two others — Curtis Cooper and Dana Tyrell — deserved consideration for ‘A’ status, there’s little doubt in that area.

Knowing the personalities of most players, there are only two or three who still have a tendency to bring a me-first attitude to the rink, but any negativity they might spew will be quickly silenced. It hasn’t always been that way.

Yes, Cougars fans, it’s time to think the unthinkable. It’s been a long time since anyone penned that a banner was within reach. It’s being written now.

“I feel better about our team in September of 2006 than I did last year, for sure,” said head coach Mike Vandekamp, whose toughest early-season task might be keeping this group grounded in reality and not lathered up over unfamiliar positive vibes.

“We’re a step ahead in attitude. We made some strides last year, and we have higher expectations now in our room. We expect to succeed when we come to the rink. Our work ethic is tremendous, and I haven’t had to motivate during our off-ice workouts or practices like I had to at times last year. Some habits needed to change then, so that puts us light years ahead in that area alone.”

One thing Vandekamp won’t get caught doing is publicly comparing the Cougars to other teams in the B.C. Division.

“Maybe other coaches have, and maybe management does, but I haven’t spent time looking at what other teams are doing at all,” said Vandekamp.

“I don’t know where we stack up. But I do know we have a good mix – good in goal, our defence with everyone healthy should be OK, and we’ve got some decent forwards. We may need work there, but I haven’t checked what other teams have.

“My expectation is that Kamloops is going to be a good hockey club, Kelowna is always good because they have a tradition there that’s second to none, and I know Chilliwack’s coach (Jim Hiller) very well from the BCHL and I have a lot of respect for him. They’ll be good and they’ll work, and will be hard to play against. Vancouver has one of the best coaches in the CHL in Don Hay, so it’s going to be tough to underestimate anyone, but we do like our group.”

If you think this is one reporter’s delusion, or well-spun team optimism swallowed hook, line and sinker, stop to consider the view of one Cougars fan this past week. Not only did he opine that Tyrell, just 17, will lead the team in scoring this season, ahead of Eric Hunter and others, he boldly called out that the Cats will be in the Memorial Cup in Vancouver come May.

Someone check the city’s water supply. It’s been spiked.

With the 2006-07 season facing off tonight at CN Centre, against a tough opponent in the Seattle Thunderbirds, here’s a breakdown of the key elements of the Cougars:



Goaltending

Scott Bowles and Real Cyr are both capable of taking this team on a marathon, and rookie Jordan White has had a strong camp and pre-season. Bowles, 20, might find himself in a numbers crunch for overagers, but Cyr could end up being the better trade bait since he has two years left in the league. The clear thinking says it’s Bowles who stays, since he clearly had more trust from his teammates and coaches last year while posting a 2.40 goals-against average and playing every key game down the stretch, including every minute of the five-game playoff loss to the Vancouver Giants, the eventual WHL champs. This decision comes down to market value and the three-piece overage puzzle more than anything else — which part wins out? White, 18, can relax and concentrate on playing the role of understudy, working toward the starting role next year.



Defence

With apologies to the Giants and Brandon Wheat Kings, the Cougars may just have the best combination of blueliners in the league. This group has a mixture of size, skill, experience and youth – and, remember, that’s without Mike Fogolin, who would have been a 19-year-old this season if not for his tragic death two years ago, or 2003 first-overall bantam pick Ryan Kerr, now 17, who was traded last year. Ty Wishart, one of six assistant captains, is the best of a good lot, backed up by steady, two-way Kalvin Sagert, the hulking Vladimir Mihalik, Jesse Dudas, Curtis Patterson, Chris Vanduynhoven, and rookies Lance Redden, Patrik Vrana. Despite his yeoman service for four seasons, Cooper’s days here are numbered because of the overage crunch. Dudas has to prove he can stay healthy and play within the designed program. Vanduynhoven can be a killer, but that won’t be for a few years, and watching the six-foot-seven Mihalik will only help him learn how to play a big-man’s game. Redden’s poise with the puck might remind people of a young Dan Hamhuis before too long, and he could see more icetime than anyone imagines.



Forwards

It starts with Hunter, named captain Thursday, but does not end there, though he will get so much special attention that others will have every opportunity to exploit weaker defenders. Hunter’s goals have to be high, 50-plus and leading this team to a minimum of 45 wins, along with continuing to mature at handling blanket coverage. Brett Robertson, added from Medicine Hat for no-show Tyler Swystun, scored 22 goals last year, and has the ability nearly double that in this lineup. If the Cougars keep both plus Jared Walker, an all-20 first line could be the top unit in the league. Even without it, Hunter and Robertson will take undue pressure off Nick Drazenovic, Dan Gendur, who must prove he can avoid injuries, Evan Fuller, defensive specialist Greg Gardner, stellar sophomores Tyrell and Prab Rai, and impressive 16-year-old Dale Hunt. Kirk Meaver, 19, has never lived up to the promise that made him a second-round bantam choice in 2002, and his time will be challenged by newly-acquired Jordie Deagle and Steven Kajic, a tough 18-year-old. Randall Groot, yet another Smithers prospect for the Cats, joins Hunt as the other 16-year-old on the club.



The outlook

Vandekamp can push the gas pedal with this team, no longer afraid that someone might linger far behind the top group. This is the classic example where the team’s best players are also the most motivated, and in this franchise’s case it means there is a drive to leave the mediocre past exactly where it is — in the past. There is added weight on the shoulders of these teens-and-20s to create a buzz that will return the atmosphere to a building that used to fill up for Tuesday night games in November against Moose Jaw. They can see the empty seats as plain as day.

Anything less than second in the B.C. Division should be considered unacceptable. Same goes for a finish short of third overall in the conference, and at least advancing to the second round of the playoffs. First in B.C. and top three in the league is within reach.

A banner year? It has to be.



GAMEDAY NOTES



PRINCE GEORGE — The Cougars open with a doubleheader at home against the Seattle Thunderbirds for the second season in a row. The squads split the games last year… Nick Drazenovic (broken rib), Jesse Dudas (broken knuckle) and Vladimir Mihalik (NHL camp, Tampa Bay) won’t play. With no Dudas, the Cougars will have an all left-hand shooting defence corps… An all right-hand line was used in practice this week — Dale Hunt with Kirk Meaver and Evan Fuller, an oddity for a lineup with just six righties… Eric Hunter, a 40-goal man last season, was named captain on Thursday. Wearing the As on the black jerseys, which the Cats will wear at home until after Christmas, will be Brett Robertson, Drazenovic and Ty Wishart. Jared Walker, Kalvin Sagert and Greg Gardner will have letters on the white jerseys. All the captains or assistants are 19 or older, except the 18-year-old Wishart… Overagers Hunter, Walker and Robertson practiced on a line together all week, perhaps a hint that they’ll open the season that way and let Real Cyr get the call in goal. G Scott Bowles and D Curtis Cooper are the other 20-year-olds still on the team… Rookies expected to see their first regular-season WHL action this weekend are D Lance Redden, LW Steven Kajic, RW Randall Groot and D Patrik Vrana... The Cougars acquired 17-year-old LW Jordie Deagle, a former first-round draft choice, from Medicine Hat on Thursday for a third-round draft choice and the rights to list player Tyler Gron, 17. Deagle, who had no points in 14 games last season but had two goals and four assists in five exhibition games this year, was expected to have a breakout season in the WHL this year, according to articles in the Medicine Hat News. Deagle played bantam hockey with Dana Tyrell. Deagle, six-foot and 187 pounds, will be in town in time for tonight’s game. C Michael Iorio, 18, was released Thursday to make room for Deagle.

Sput
09-22-2006, 11:20 AM
With no Dudas, the Cougars will have an all left-hand shooting defence corps… An all right-hand line was used in practice this week — Dale Hunt with Kirk Meaver and Evan Fuller, an oddity for a lineup with just six righties…

This is from the previous artical......does ANY other team have this situation? It was like this last season as well, that the Cougars only had one or two right handed shooters on the team. My son's teams have been like this too (both hockey and lacrosse), but they are only 9/10 year olds. Hockey we had three right handers and lacrosse (two teams) we had three right handers.


PS: scamperdog....you get up far to early in the morning for me to beat your posts. :laugh: