Cats burned by Blazers
When the Prince George Cougars and Kamloops Blazers get together one thing seems certain: fans will be treated to extra hockey this season.
The Western Hockey League rivals have met three times this season (once in exhibition) with all games ending in a shootout.
Unfortunately for the Cougars (7-11-1-3), they’ve come out of the skills competition on the losing side each time, including Saturday’s 5-4 shootout loss at the Interior Savings Centre in Kamloops.
The Cougars have now lost a season-high seven straight games – though in three of the games they’ve earned a point for getting the game to a shootout – and are winless in November.
The Blazers (19-5-0-1) led the Western conference by four points over the Portland Winterhawks (17-4-1). Despite the loss the Cougars had several positives to take into their game Tuesday when they host the Regina Pats (10-12-1-1) at CN Centre, 7 p.m.
For the first time since October, the Cats found the back of the net four times in a single game and their 22nd ranked power-play unit scored twice.
The Cougars received goals from Jari Erricson, Colin Jacobs, Chase Witala and Ryan Hanes.
Chase Ully and JC Lipon each had two goals for the Blazers.
Brad Morrison, the Cougars first round (seventh overall) pick in the 2012 bantam draft, picked up an assist on Hanes power-play goal.
The 15-year-old was playing in his first WHL game and the assist
The Cougars have now lost a season-high seven straight games – though in three of the games they’ve earned a point for getting the game to a shootout – and are winless in November.
was his first point in major junior hockey.
The Cougars were without Caleb Belter, suspended after taking a major penalty and game misconduct in Friday’s 4-0 loss to the Saskatoon Blades.
The length of Belter’s suspension will be determined today.
Prince George defenceman Rinalds Rosinskis (left leg injury) also missed the game after being injured Friday.
After the game, Kamloops forward Jordan DePape announced his retirement from junior hockey after deciding to undergo surgery on his right shoulder.
The 20-year-old was injured a week earlier but missed the start of last season after undergoing surgery on his left shoulder.
DePape joined the Blazers via a trade from the Brandon Wheat Kings and played 120 games spread over four seasons in Kamloops, collecting 98 points.
The Winnipeg native planned to return home for surgery before resuming his hockey career next fall with the University of Manitoba Bisons.