Cariboo Cougars win fourth straight game
Today we came into the game and thought we could just roll over these guys again and they came out pushing us and we had to take penalties to try to slow them down.
After the Cariboo Cougars scored eight goals in a wild, one-sided, penalty-filled B.C. Major Midget Hockey League game Saturday, they suddenly found themselves at the short of the stick in the Sunday rematch at Kin 1 against the North Island Silvertips.
The Cougars hammered the Silvertips 8-2 on Saturday, but it took them nearly 17 minutes to get one puck into the net Sunday morning. At that point, Josh Maser tipped in a shot from point man Logan Archer to tie the game 1-1 and the Cougars scored two more in the second period to win 3-1.
Sitting 10th out of 11 teams in the standings, the Silvertips wiped the slate clean and tried to take the Cougars by surprise, and for a while their strategy worked.
“We had some penalty problems in the game and they came out a little strong, it was a rough game,” said Cougars rookie forward Trey Thomas.
The Silvertips went 1-for-9 on the power play on Sunday. Had they managed to finish off a few of those opportunities, the outcome might have been much different.
If the Cougars learned one thing in that game, it’s that they can’t afford to play like that against a better-quality team and expect to win.
“Our penalties were kind of getting a hold of us,” said Cougars 16-year-old defenceman Jesse Pomeroy. “We just have to stay focused more. Today we came into the game and thought we could just roll over these guys again and they came out pushing us and we had to take penalties to try to slow them down. We just have to be prepared next weekend for both games.”
Jeremy Gervais rapped in a loose puck for the gamewinner Sunday and Maser picked up his second of the game shorthanded, intercepting a clearing attempt from Silvertips goalie Derek Krall. Keaton Mastrodonato scored for North Island.
Marcus Allen, called up from the Tier 1 midget Cougars, making 22 saves as the Cougars outshot North Island 42-23.
In Saturday’s game, Chase DuBois scored two goals, while Ty Kolle, Tyler Maser, Josh Maser, and Jeremy Gervais collected singles. Dylan Cozens of Whitehorse, called up for his first BCMMHL game from the North Delta midget ranks, picked up his first major midget goal on a breakaway to cap the scoring with 1:59 left. Mastrodonato and Dylan Hartl scored for the Silvertips on Cougars goalie Aaron Jakubowski, who picked up his seventh BCMMHL win.
The teams combined for 138 minutes in penalties.
The Cougars (15-6-3) have now won a season-high four straight games. The weekend sweep moved them into second place, one point ahead of the Vancouver Northwest Giants, who lost 5-3 Saturday to the Fraser Valley Thunderbirds and tied the T-birds 5-5 in the rematch on Sunday.
The Valley West Hawks of Abbotsford lead the league with an 18-6-1 record.
“We’ve had a few tough games and the start of the season was a little rough but we’ve had some good streaks,” said the 15-year-old Thomas.
Next weekend the Cougars will be in Richmond to play the Greater Vancouver Canadians. They’ll leave Christmas Day for Calgary, where the Cougars will be going in as defending champions at the prestigious Mac’s tournament.
“It’s really nerve-wracking knowing we came first last year and all the teams will be gunning for us this year, but it’s exciting,” said Pomeroy. “We had a slow start but we’re starting to roll now and now, we’re starting to beat most of the teams.”
— Jesse Pomeroy