Colby McAuley's Western Hockey League career could be summed up in a few words - all guts, not much glory.
The 19-year-old left winger isn't the kind of guy to light it up for a hat trick and you won't find him anywhere close to the top of the scoring race.
But as he showed the Kamloops Blazers Friday night at CN Centre in the final preseason test for both teams, if you need a volunteer to stand in front and take a beating from opposing defencemen trying to clear him out of harm's way, McAuley's your man.
He loves doing the dirty jobs, and that's what makes him so valuable to the Cougars.
McAuley was in the right place to get his stick on Max Martin's power-play point shot to open the scoring late in the second period, getting the Cougars started in what turned out a 4-0 triumph. McAuley, a third-year left winger from Sherwood Park, Alta., was a thorn in the side of the visitors all night.
Russian import Yan Khomenko was the big gun for the Cougars with two goals. The 18-year-old from St. Petersburg let rip a rocket of a wrist shot to beat goalie Carter Phair for the Cougars second goal, 3:18 into the third period. It was Khomenko's first game with the Cats since they picked him up last week from the Everett Silvertips, the team which drafted him in 2015.
Playing on a line with Justin Almeida and McAuley, Khomenko didn't have to wait long for his second goal of the game. He picked the corner low with a snapper on Phair from the left side, 14:43 into the third, a play set up by McAuley.
That came just after Jared Bethune fed Aaron Boyd a perfect pass in front of the net on a 2-on-1 break to make it a 3-0 game.
Starting in goal for the Cougars was Nick McBride, who came in with an astronomical .943 save percentage and stingy 2.10 goals-against average in preseason play. McBride improved on those numbers Friday, stopping all 19 shots he faced in 30:09 of game time. The 19-year-old from Maple Ridge is showing every sign he's going to push overager Ty Edmonds for playing time this season.
Although he didn't get tested severely, Tavin Grant kept the shutout going in his half-game, making nine saves. Kamloops starter Dylan Ferguson had to be sharp on several occasions, making 15 saves in his 30-minute session before Phair came in to replace him.
Shots ended up 31-29 in the Cougars favour.
The Cats went 1-for-4 on the power play while the Blazers were 0-for-3.
Neither team was even close to playing with a full lineup. Eight Cougars are away at NHL rookie camps, including: F Brogan O'Brien (Colorado), D Josh Anderson (Colorado), F Brad Morrison (New York Rangers), F Kody McDonald (New York Islanders), D Sam Ruopp (Columbus), F Jesse Gabrielle (Boston), F Jansen Harkins (Winnipeg) and D Tate Olson (Vancouver). The Blazers were without nine pro prospects - G Connor Ingram (Tampa Bay), D Dawson Davidson (Pittsburgh), D Dallas Valentine (Edmonton), D Ondrej Vala (Dallas), F Deven Sideroff (Anaheim), F Rudolfs Balcers (San Jose), F Jeremaine Loewen (San Jose), F Garrett Pilon (Washington) and F Collin Shirley (Edmonton).
The Cougars open the season next weekend in Victoria. The Blazers play a home-and-home series with Kelowna which starts next Friday in Kamloops.
Friday WHL preseason summary
Blazers 0 at Cougars 4
First Period
No scoring.
Penalties - Mahovlich Kam (hooking) 3:36, Lakusta PG (high-sticking) 8:10, Dosanjh PG (holding) 10:29.
Second Period
1. Prince George, McAuley 2 (Martin, Collins) 19:10 (pp)
Penalties - D.Gatenby Kam (tripping) 4:43, D.Gatenby Lam (hooking) 11:04, D.Gatenby Kam (delay of game) 18:06.
Third Period
2. Prince George, Khomenko 1 (Martin, Almeida) 3:18
3. Prince George, Boyd 3 (Bethune, Curtis) 4:53
4. Prince George, Khomenko 2 (McAuley) 14:43
Penalties - Reagan Kam (roughing), Mahovlich Kam (roughing), Kochanski PG (roughing), Kadlec PG (roughing) 5:11, Kadlec PG (slashing) 19:14.
Shots on goal by
Kamloops 11 8 9 --28
Prince George 9 12 10 --31
Goal - Kamloops, Ferguson (15 shots-15 saves) and, at 10:09 of second Phair (16-12); Prince George, McBride (19-19) and, at 10:09 of second, Grant (9-9).
Power plays - Kam: 0-3; PG: 1-4.
Referees - Kyle Kowalski, Derek Zalaski; Linesmen - Tom Henetiuk, Nick Albinati.
Attendance - 2,343.
