Sput
10-14-2006, 10:42 AM
Courtesy of: http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Cyr shines in win against Tigers
Citizen staff
Real Cyr proved he’s ready to be the No. 1 goaltender for the Prince George Cougars.
Cyr, thrust into the job after the team released Scott Bowles on Thursday to get down to the roster limit of three overagers, was at times spectacular during a 3-2 Friday night road victory against the Medicine Hat Tigers. Cyr, 19, faced 40 shots and allowed just the two goals. He was picked as the game’s first star.
“I was obviously impressed with Real,” said Cougars head coach Mike Vandekamp. “I think everybody fought hard (but) you need goaltending to win on the road too. He did his job.
“He’s a better goaltender when he’s calm in his net and he didn’t get too scrambly. You didn’t see him leave his net a lot to play pucks.
“He stuck to his net, he was good in tight on the scramble situations — he took away the bottom (of the net). He made about five really big saves and that’s kind of obviously the difference between winning and losing.”
Just one example of Cyr’s Friday night brilliance came moments after Prince George forward Dana Tyrell had scored to give the Cats a 2-1 lead mid-way through the second period. With Tyler Swystun breaking in on him, Cyr flashed his glove to take away a goal from the Tigers’ forward, who came into the game 11th in league scoring with four goals and 11 points in eight games.
Swystun was a first-round draft pick of the Cougars in 2003 but never played a game for Prince George. Instead, the Airdrie, Alta., native chose to play in the Alberta Junior Hockey League with the Camrose Kodiaks and then accepted a scholarship at the University of Michigan. At the end of August, the Cougars sent Swystun’s playing rights to the Tigers, in exchange for 20-year-old forward Brett Robertson.
Eric Hunter opened the scoring for the Cougars at the 5:25 mark of the first period while on a power play. Hunter’s goal was his third of the season, assisted by Ty Wishart and Devin Setoguchi. For Setoguchi, the helper was his first point as a Cougar.
Derek Dorsett tied the game for the Tigers later in the first, set up by former Prince George Spruce Kings forward Chris Stevens.
Tyrell’s goal, his second of the year, was the only one of the middle frame.
In the third, with 10:40 gone, Jared Walker connected for his fourth goal of the season. Walker finished off a two-on-one break with Nick Drazenovic, who also helped out on Tyrell’s goal. Kris Russell completed the scoring for the Tigers just 33 seconds after the Walker shot found the mark behind Tigers’ netminder Matt Keetley. Russell’s shot was a soft one from his spot on the blueline, but, after that, Cyr made a few more big stops to preserve the victory.
On the night, the Cougars were outshot 40-26. Prince George was 1-for-6 on the power play and held Medicine Hat scoreless on six man-advantage opportunities.
The win for the Cougars, now 3-4-0-1 on the season, came after four consecutive home-ice setbacks. The Tigers, meanwhile, dropped to 6-3-0-0. The game was the first of a six-game road trip for the Cougars. Tonight, they face off against the Lethbridge Hurricanes and, on Sunday, they skate against the Kootenay Ice.
n The Cougars played Friday night without the services of four injured players. Chris Vanduynhoven (hand, one week), Jesse Dudas (hand, two weeks), Dan Gendur (ankle, two weeks) and Vladimir Mihalik (shoulder, one week) all missed the game.
Saturday, October 14, 2006
Cyr shines in win against Tigers
Citizen staff
Real Cyr proved he’s ready to be the No. 1 goaltender for the Prince George Cougars.
Cyr, thrust into the job after the team released Scott Bowles on Thursday to get down to the roster limit of three overagers, was at times spectacular during a 3-2 Friday night road victory against the Medicine Hat Tigers. Cyr, 19, faced 40 shots and allowed just the two goals. He was picked as the game’s first star.
“I was obviously impressed with Real,” said Cougars head coach Mike Vandekamp. “I think everybody fought hard (but) you need goaltending to win on the road too. He did his job.
“He’s a better goaltender when he’s calm in his net and he didn’t get too scrambly. You didn’t see him leave his net a lot to play pucks.
“He stuck to his net, he was good in tight on the scramble situations — he took away the bottom (of the net). He made about five really big saves and that’s kind of obviously the difference between winning and losing.”
Just one example of Cyr’s Friday night brilliance came moments after Prince George forward Dana Tyrell had scored to give the Cats a 2-1 lead mid-way through the second period. With Tyler Swystun breaking in on him, Cyr flashed his glove to take away a goal from the Tigers’ forward, who came into the game 11th in league scoring with four goals and 11 points in eight games.
Swystun was a first-round draft pick of the Cougars in 2003 but never played a game for Prince George. Instead, the Airdrie, Alta., native chose to play in the Alberta Junior Hockey League with the Camrose Kodiaks and then accepted a scholarship at the University of Michigan. At the end of August, the Cougars sent Swystun’s playing rights to the Tigers, in exchange for 20-year-old forward Brett Robertson.
Eric Hunter opened the scoring for the Cougars at the 5:25 mark of the first period while on a power play. Hunter’s goal was his third of the season, assisted by Ty Wishart and Devin Setoguchi. For Setoguchi, the helper was his first point as a Cougar.
Derek Dorsett tied the game for the Tigers later in the first, set up by former Prince George Spruce Kings forward Chris Stevens.
Tyrell’s goal, his second of the year, was the only one of the middle frame.
In the third, with 10:40 gone, Jared Walker connected for his fourth goal of the season. Walker finished off a two-on-one break with Nick Drazenovic, who also helped out on Tyrell’s goal. Kris Russell completed the scoring for the Tigers just 33 seconds after the Walker shot found the mark behind Tigers’ netminder Matt Keetley. Russell’s shot was a soft one from his spot on the blueline, but, after that, Cyr made a few more big stops to preserve the victory.
On the night, the Cougars were outshot 40-26. Prince George was 1-for-6 on the power play and held Medicine Hat scoreless on six man-advantage opportunities.
The win for the Cougars, now 3-4-0-1 on the season, came after four consecutive home-ice setbacks. The Tigers, meanwhile, dropped to 6-3-0-0. The game was the first of a six-game road trip for the Cougars. Tonight, they face off against the Lethbridge Hurricanes and, on Sunday, they skate against the Kootenay Ice.
n The Cougars played Friday night without the services of four injured players. Chris Vanduynhoven (hand, one week), Jesse Dudas (hand, two weeks), Dan Gendur (ankle, two weeks) and Vladimir Mihalik (shoulder, one week) all missed the game.