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Chiefs crunch Cougars

The Prince George Cougars were held without a point in three games this season against the Spokane Chiefs and had redemption in mind Friday when they skated out onto the ice at Veterans Memorial Arena to wrap up the season series.
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The Prince George Cougars were held without a point in three games this season against the Spokane Chiefs and had redemption in mind Friday when they skated out onto the ice at Veterans Memorial Arena to wrap up the season series.

How quickly that plan hit the skids.

Ty Smith made sure of it, collecting a whopping seven points.

The 17-year-old Smith scored three goals and assisted on four others, a franchise record point total for defencemen, as the Chiefs pulverized the visiting Cougars 9-2.

The Cats were hoping to avoid having to play catchup hockey like they were forced to do Tuesday in their 6-5 loss in Kelowna. In that game they fell behind 3-0 before the six-minute mark. In Spokane, it was a 2-0 hole the Cougars dug for themselves early.

Kailer Yamamoto started it with his 17th of the season. He took a drop-pass in the face-off circle and launched a snapshot that hit the back of the net behind Tavin Grant, making his third consecutive start in goal for the Cougars. Just 59 seconds later, Milos Fafrak stepped into a lateral pass fed to him in the circle by Filip Kral. It was the seventh snipe of the season for Fafrak, an 18-year-old Slovakian import.

Smith potted his first two goals in the first four minutes of the second period to increase the gap to 4-0. His wrist shot from the left wing side sailed high into the net over Grant's left shoulder just 12 seconds into the second period. Then Smith was allowed to skate in unchecked from the point and he cut into the middle of the ice and lifted a backhander over Grant for his 12th goal.

Chiefs rookie Luke Toporowski added to the count 8:23 into the second. The 16-year-old winger caught the Cougars defence napping and he took a stretch pass from Smith to beat Grant with his shot.

Cougars rookie Tyson Phare, in his second career WHL game since being called up from Yale Academy, came close to breaking up Dawson Weatherill's shutout six minutes into the second period when he was set up in front by Cameron MacPhee, but Weatherill stood tall and made the save off the redirected shot from close range.

Grant was relieved by Isaiah DiLaura to start the third period, after stopping 22 of 28 shots. The Cougars finally put one past Weatherill, 4:25 into the final frame. Brogan O'Brien scored his first goal since Dec. 2, taking a behind-the-net pass from Jared Bethune, then going to his backhand as he dragged the puck across the crease. For Bethune, it was his 100th career WHL assist.

The Chiefs responded immediately with goals from Carter Chorney and Ethan McIndoe 32 seconds apart. Smith's hat trick goal came with about seven minutes left. Aaron Boyd scored the second Cougars goal with 2.5 seconds left.

Weatherill made 32 saves to record his 22nd win in 39 games this season. Grant took the loss as his record dropped to 13-15-3-1. DiLaura allowed three goals on six shots. The shots ended up even, 34-34.

LOOSE PUCKS: The Cougars have allowed the first goal in their past 13 games and are 2-9-0-1 over that stretch. They were outscored 24-7 in the four losses to the Chiefs... The Cougars will be in Kennewick, Wash., tonight to take on the Tri-City Americans. The Americans are coming off a 4-2 win Friday at home over the Kamloops Blazers.