Trailing the Regina Pats in the third period Wednesday night, Richard Matvichuk was not happy with his veteran players and let them know it.
Instead of sending them over the boards to try to narrow a 4-1 gap he kept their 20-year-old posteriors glued to the bench.
In the eyes of the Prince George Cougars head coach, the effort being made by his oldest players to try to stop the shelling while the Cats were on their way to allowing a season-high 60 shots was nowhere near what was expected of them at this stage in their WHL careers.
Tonight in Brandon those bench-sitters will be given a clean slate as the Cougars (18-26-4-4, fifth in B.C. Division) try to end a four-game losing streak when they take on the Wheat Kings (28-17-3-2).
"We're not happy with our results, you look at the group we have and quite frankly our older players have to play better and compete more - it's not there right now and it's not helping us in the situation now we're at," said Matvichuk. "If those guys aren't the best players on the ice for us it's going to be tough to win hockey games. Accountability is a huge word for us right now and guys sat on the bench last night because they weren't playing the right way."
Matvichuk was not pointing the finger of blame on 20-year-old centre Brogan O'Brien, who has played just four games since returning from a knee injury.
"He was out for seven weeks so just to step on the ice and get the old Brogan back, we knew that wasn't going to happen, but he's starting to find his stride here which we're going to need down the stretch," said Matvichuk. "Our young kids, the Colinas, the Brownes, the Kryskis, they look up to a guy like that so it's a matter of leading by example and that's what we expect from all our (20-year-olds).
"They have to able to lead every night and do the things we ask them to do. (Aaron) Boyd, O'Brien and (Jared) Bethune have to be our horses, they're playing the most minutes and they have to realize that with where we're at in the standings we have to try to win every hockey game and it goes beyond that. They have to show up and play the best hockey they can play knowing teams from the CIS (U Sports) and from pro are calling me on and watching them on a daily basis."
Taylor Gauthier took the loss in net Wednesday for the Cougars, stopping 56 shots while his team was outshot 60-30. Matvichuk said goaltending has not been a concern on this trip. Tavin Grant played in the 6-2 loss to Prince Albert, DiLaura was in between the pipes for Saturday 4-3 shootout loss in Saskatoon and Grant played Tuesday in Swift Current, a 4-0 Broncos' win.
"Our last three games our goalies have been fantastic," said Matvichuk.
The second-year WHL coach also singled out the play of defenceman Joel Lakusta, 19, and Ryan Schoettler, 18, who have inherited the role as leaders of a young blueline brigade that includes one 16-year-old (Rhett Rhinehart), two 17-year-olds (Jack Sander and Cole Moberg) and two relatively inexperienced 18-year-olds (Austin Crossley and Cameron MacPhee).
"Lakusta and Schoettler have been fantastic, they're probably playing too many minutes to be successful but they've both opened up a lot of eyes in the hockey world," said Matvichuk.
"We''re going through tough times, we understand that, but it's what can they do to make sure they're prepared and all the young guys are prepared every night."
The Cougars are all but mathematically eliminated from playoff contention. Heading into today's games they were 13 points behind Spokane for eighth place in the Western Conference.
Cougars right winger Vladislav Mikhalchuk will be subject to a suspension for his check to the head major and game misconduct penalties after he collided with Pats defenceman Brady Pouteau in the second period in Regina. The WHL had yet to announce the length of Mikhalchuk's suspension as of press-time.
"It was a hit from behind but give Mikhalchuk credit, we asked him to be more physical and he's probably been our most physical guy in our last four games," said Matvichuk. "He didn't intend to hurt (Pouteau), it was a hockey play that happened. He's been playing great."
The Cougars are otherwise healthy for today's game (5:30 p.m. PT, 94.3 FM The Goat). Matvichuk said DiLaura will get the start in goal. The Cougars wrap up their six-game road trip Saturday in Moose Jaw against the league-leading Warriors.
