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Monday, December 1, 2008
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Cariboo Cougars close weekend on winning note |
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Written by TED CLARKE, Citizen staff
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Sunday, 05 October 2008 |
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BRETT BULMERCARIBOO COUGARSCOUGARSISAAC HAACKJUSTIN FULTONMARCUS BEESLEYMICHAEL KINGTREVOR SPRAGUEPRINCE RUPERT
By the time their breathing returned to normal, the Valley West Hawks could not be caught.
In the rematch Sunday morning, there was no need for the Cougars to hyperventilate into a paper bag. They had their B.C. Major Midget Hockey League prey trapped early and never let go, winning 4-1.
As expected, Brett Bulmer was the offensive catalyst for the Cougars, scoring twice Sunday in front of home crowd at Kin 1. As good as Bulmer was in filling the Hawks’ net, the Cats corps of defenceman -- Josh Garneau, Kyle Madsen, Trevor Dahlen, Michael King, Hayden Long and Mike Jorgensen -- proved venomous to the Hawks, dishing out punishing checks and keeping the sightlines clear for goalies Marcus Beesley (the Saturday starter) and Tim Zwiers (who played Sunday).
“We got the puck in deep and worked hard to finish our checks,” said Long, a 16-year-old returning Cougar from Prince Rupert.
“A lot of the bounces went their way (in a 1-0 Hawks win Saturday) night and (Sunday) we just worked harder and the bounces started to go our way. Everybody produced and our goalscorers scored goals. I think everybody is getting more confident and they’re starting to get used to how fast the hockey is and the hitting.”
The six-foot-three, 190-pound King, a 15-year-old graduate of the Prince George bantam triple-A team, scored the game-winner and first of the season midway through the first period Sunday after he stepped around a check and found enough open ice to launch a shot from the ringette line that beat goalie Jay Deo.
“People are on you quicker in this league and you just have to move the puck faster,” said King.
“Their goalie (Laurent Brossolt) played really well that game (Saturday) and we were just trying to put one in.”
Justin Fulton gave the Cats a three-goal lead in the second period Sunday until Kevin Quinn, on a Hawks’ power play, cut the margin to two a couple minutes later. The ever-dangerous Bulmer collected his second of the game late third period, using a Hawks defender as a screen as he picked the corner.
“We were probably a little overconfident over what happened (Saturday) -- it was a pretty even game and we ended up scoring that one goal late in the game,” said Hawks head coach Bill Tzetzos, whose team’s record stands at 3-3-0.
“They played really well. That Brett Bulmer kid was unbelievable every time he touched the puck, and our guys kind of forgot he was out there. You can’t do that with a guy like that because he’s just going to cause you trouble.”
The only goal Saturday came with the Cougars on the power play and less than five minutes to play. Mark Barden collected a clearing pass up the middle that skipped over Bulmer’s stick and buried his breakaway deke past Beesley. Hopes of a Cougars’ comeback faded in the dying minutes when Isaac Haack took an ill-advised tripping penalty. It was the only blemish in an otherwise law-abiding weekend for Haack, who was on probation as part of his penalty after a spearing incident on opening weekend Sept. 20.
The Cougars (2-4-0) took heat from head coach Trevor Sprague for undisciplined play that has hurt the bottom line and it appears the message got through. Haack took two jabs to the head Sunday and kept his cool both times.
“Our discipline was 110 per cent better than it was the first weekend,” said Sprague. “(Saturday) night was the first time we had less penalties than the other team.
“We deserved to win both games. We pumped in the puck better (on Sunday) than we did (Saturday). We have young offensive guys that are not as strong on the puck and they’re working on it.”
The Cougars will travel to North Delta and Ladner this weekend for games against the Vancouver Canadians.
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Last Updated ( Sunday, 05 October 2008 )
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