The Gordie Howe hat trick was up for grabs for Kolby Johnson.
A goal is all that was missing. He already had an assist in the books when he dropped the gloves with Team Grey defenceman Cole McIsaac halfway through the Prince George Cougars Young Guns game Friday afternoon at CN Centre.
Johnson, a six-foot-one, 178-pound forward from Kerrobert, Sask., moved up a weight class to take on the 207-pound McIsaac and ended up getting the better of his opponent, scoring a takedown to the ice. It didn't count on the scoreboard and Team Grey went on to a 5-4 victory, but for Johnson that fight was a chance to show the coaching staff of the Cougars something they'd never before seen in the 16-year-old forward.
"I'd never fought before, I just wanted to prove to them that I'll fight if they want to fight," said Johnson.
"They want to see me play physical and really drive the net and shoot. I could have been a little more aggressive just getting to the D-men in my own zone but other than that it was good.
"Last year, my defence wasn't too good when I came up and played with the Cougars for two games and I want to play as defensively as I can and show to them that I'm willing to do anything to make the team this year."
Johnson, a left winger, distinguished himself with his playmaking ability, assisting on two goals for Team Orange, but it was his physical presence that had the guys in gray looking over their shoulders. He flattened defenceman Josh Anderson with a bodycheck near the Grey net in the first period and set up linemate Marc Pasemko for the first of Pasemko's two goals, five minutes into game. Johnson, the Cougars' third-round bantam draft pick in 2013, played midget triple-A in Swift Current last season and has an offer to play junior A in the SJHL with Kindersley, but he plans on staying put in Prince George.
Kody McDonald scored twice for Team Grey. Josh Cooper had a goal and two assists and Logan Mazerolle and Dayne Stenson also scored. Joel Lakusta and Ethan DeJong also scored for Orange. Pasemko had his hat trick attempt stopped by a sharp save from goalie Dallan Tuchscherer on a breakaway chance with two minutes left.
McDonald, the Cougars second-rounder in 2013, also threw his weight around patrolling the wing and used his quick-release shot to pick the corner low on goalie Austin Hilderman in the third period.
"It was a fun experience being back in Prince George and being on the ice for the first game," said McDonald, a 16-year-old from Lethbridge. "When I started out I was trying to do too much but once I simplified my game I was more effective and thought I played a lot better."
A small gathering of fans in attendance got their first glimpse at defenceman Max Martin, the Cougars second-round pick in 20143. Cats GM Todd Harkins says the 15-year-old reminds him of a young Drew Doughty and Martin showed Friday he's adept at clearing his own zone, making crisp passes and rushing the puck with authority. The Winnipeg native won the Manitoba midget triple-A championship last season with the Winnipeg Monarchs.
"It was exciting to be here and it felt good on the ice," said Martin, who figures he'll play this season for the Winnipeg Wild. "I was decent but could have been a little better. It was my first time on the ice and I'm sure I'll be better tomorrow."
The main camp begins today at 9 a.m. when the 100 players break off into six teams to begin scrimmages.
LOOSE PUCKS: Cougars forward David Soltes is in camp but is not medically cleared to take any contact. Soltes, 19, a highly-skilled Slovakian import,played just 15 games last season before he suffered a knee injury which required surgery in January. He likely won't be ready to play until the regular season begins. .. Former NHL centre Roman Vopat is giving the Cougars prospects a look this weekend. Vopat, 38, who retired in 2011 after 16 seasons of pro hockey which included NHL stops in St. Louis, Los Angeles, Chicago and Philadelphia, is being considered for a position with the Cougars as an assistant coach. He coached the Kimberley Dynamiters (junior B) last season.
