The Cariboo Cougars are at the top of the standings, the South Island Royals are near the bottom. In the eyes of Cariboo head coach Trevor Sprague, that scenario translates into a challenge for his players.
"South Island is looking for a win and that makes them a pretty dangerous team, a team that you don't want to underestimate," Sprague said. "Desperate hockey teams do great things when they're looking to get a win and we have to stick to our team tactics - our hard work, our puck pursuing way and make sure we don't underestimate the team that we're playing."
The Cougars and Royals will clash on Saturday (3:45 p.m.) and Sunday (10 a.m.) at Kin 1. Heading into the weekend, the Cats are the first-place team in the B.C. Hockey Major Midget League with a 7-1-0 record and the Royals are 10th at 1-5-0.
Sprague was recently in Victoria, there to serve as an assistant coach for the Western Hockey League's Prince George Cougars. While in the B.C. capital, he had the opportunity to watch the Royals practice.
"They seemed to have the work ethic of a team that could come in any day of the week and win a hockey game, and maybe that's this weekend," he said. "But for us, it's just making sure that we're prepared to play our way and take the game to them. Our leadership is going to have a big role this weekend, just on keeping guys focused and sticking to the task at hand."
The games will mark the return of Cariboo forward Tyler Maser to the BCHMML. Maser had 15 goals and 27 points for the club last season but had been with the Vernon Vipers of the B.C. Hockey League this fall. Maser, a physical force at six-foot-three and 200 pounds, is a product of Houston.
