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12-09-2006, 11:00 AM
From :
http://www.princegeorgecitizen.com/
Saturday, December 9, 2006
Cats quell Red Deer rebellion
by JIM SWANSON Citizen Sports Editor

Chris Falloon has been Hunted down.

Prince George Cougars captain Eric Hunter took over the franchise's career goal-scoring record on Friday in Red Deer, surpassing Falloon, the fellow Manitoban and ex-captain who tallied 100 times in his five seasons and 336 games with the Cats (1998-2004).

Even better, Hunter's 100th marker, accomplished in 286 games, helped the Cougars get their first win on this six-game road trip, a 3-2 shootout win over the Rebels.

Hunter actually has 101 goals as a Cougar, and the record all to himself, but one won't be officially added until the completion of the interrupted game with Everett. That Oct. 28 contest, called after two periods due to CN Centre ice conditions, will conclude Feb. 27. The Cougars led that game 2-1 when it was halted, and Hunter had one of the Prince George goals.

Devin Setoguchi was the lone shooter among six contestants to score in Friday's breakaway competition, giving the Cougars their first shootout win in four tries this season and improving the team's record to 13-15-1-3. Prince George goaltender Real Cyr, who had been beaten six times by nine shooters in earlier shootouts, stopped all three Red Deer shots to make Setoguchi's goal count.

"It feels good, and it's nice to come away with a win when we played pretty well," said Cougars head coach Drew Schoneck, who was pleased with how the team showed up from the start following Wednesday's collapse in a 5-3 loss in Lethbridge.

"I‚m happy with how the guys responded. We had a tough practice (Thursday in Taber, Alta.) where we challenged the guys with a lot of one-on-one battles, and tonight we had a very good first period. We had a letdown in the second but we were able to battle through that and get back on track and get the game to overtime."

The win was important, but this game will be remembered as the night Hunter became the franchise's top sniper.

Not only did Hunter open the scoring Friday, at 11:50 of the first period with his 13th of the season, he assisted on linemate Dana Tyrell's goal 30 seconds later, his team-best 14th of the campaign.

Unfortunately, and true to form for this Cougars team, the lead did not stand.

Red Deer tied it on goals by Brett Sutter (early in the second period) and Kirill Starkov (near the middle of the third). Both teams had chances late as the goaltenders were busy — Cyr stopped 31 shots, while the Cougars forced Red Deer's James Reimer to block 39 through three periods and overtime.

Neither team connected on the power play. The Cougars were 0-6, and the Rebels were 0-4.

"It's always easier to preach when you're winning," said Schoneck, asked whether lessons are starting to sink in.

"We didn’t give them a whole lot of opportunities. There's still lots of work with this group, but we're working hard to get this moving in the right direction."

Not dressed for the Cougars on Friday were healthy scratches Curtis Patterson, Steven Kajic and Lance Redden. Newly-acquired import forward Richard Rapac, 19, wore the No. 23 jersey formerly donned by Patrik Vrana, the 17-year-old defenceman who was sent to Moose Jaw for Rapac on Thursday. Vrana did not play Friday for the Warriors, who beat Swift Current 5-2.

This has not been a fruitful trip for the Cats, who have yet to win a game in regulation. The journey started with losses in Vancouver (5-2), Chilliwack (5-4 in a shootout), Medicine Hat (3-2 in overtime) and Lethbridge (5-3, in a game Prince George led 3-0). Of a possible 10 points, the Cougars have earned four, staying put in third place in the B.C. Division.

The Cougars conclude this road trip Sunday with a matinee in Calgary, and Setoguchi won't play because he has to report to the national junior team's selection camp. The next Cougars home action is next weekend against Kamloops, Dec. 15-16. The Cougars will be teaming with the SPCA the first night to help raise awareness during the holiday season, and fans are encouraged to bring food, toys, office or cleaning supplies or cash donations to the game. The Dec. 16 game is the annual Teddy Bear Toss night.

n The Chilliwack Bruins released veteran goaltender Jim Watt, 20, on Friday. That move, coupled with the acquisition Thursday of netminder Matt Esposito from the Everett Silvertips, leaves Alex Archibald as the No. 1 goaltender. Esposito was picked up for the price of a fourth-round bantam choice in 2007.