The Cariboo Cougars won't get much time off this Christmas season and they're used to that.
After they get finished with the North Island Silvertips this weekend in a two-game B.C. Hockey Major Midget League series in Nanaimo, the Cougars will return to Prince George for about a week, then take to the road again for a return trip to the Mac's Invitational Tournament in Calgary.
The Cougars (17-4-1-0) are second in the BCHMML standings, four points behind the Valley West Hawks (19-3-1-0). North Island (8-12-2-0) is eighth in the 11-team league.
Last year in the Mac's semifinal the Cougars lost 5-4 in overtime to the Belarus Under-17 national team. Belarus went on to defeat Saskatoon in the final.
This year's tournament starts for the Cougars on Dec. 26 when they take on the Carolina Junior Hurricanes. They play the Swift Current Legionaires on Dec. 27, Knights of Columbus Pats of Regina on Dec. 28, then face the Calgary Buffaloes on Dec. 29.
The final will be played Jan. 1.
