It wasn't pretty. At times you had to avert your eyes it was so unbearable. But ultimately, there was a certain charm to it.
That description could fit both the jerseys the Kamloops Blazers donned and the actual gameplay during their 4-1 win over the Prince George Cougars.
Wearing their Don Cherry themed sweaters to promote organ donation, the Blazers heaved 44 shots on net, but couldn't put the feisty Cougars away until midway through the third.
"There's not much that separates us," says Blazers head coach Serge Lajoie. "Tonight was a case where our best players stepped up. From Fergy (Dylan Ferguson) making some big saves and weathering the storm to Frankie (Zane Franklin) playing with some energy. It was nice to see (Kyrell) Sopotyk get rewarded there. We always come into these games saying we have to outwork them, and not only work hard but work smart, and I think tonight we did that."
Sopotyk opened the scoring on the night, tucking one behind Cougars goalie Taylor Gauthier off a feed Luke Zazula.
In honour of Cherry, all tonight’s tweets will be in the style of Grapes... WHAT DO I TELL YOU KIDS? PUT THE PUCK ON NET. SOPPY OR WHATEVER (Kyrell Sopotyk) PUT THE BLAZERS UP 1-0!
— Kamloops Matters (@KamloopsMatters) February 2, 2019
Just before the first period ended, Orrin Centazzo would double the Blazers lead, sniping one from the high slot. Assists went to Zane Franklin and Brodi Stuart.
Prince George answered back in the second on a power play when Vladislav Mikhalchuk was left all alone at the side of the net and put one behind Dylan Ferguson. Cole Moberg and Ryan Schoettler had the helpers on what would prove to be Prince George's only successful power play in five attempts.
After killing off two penalties early in the third, Kamloops would close this one out at even strength, when Franklin sprung Stuart on a breakaway and he beat Gauthier five-hole.
"Just a couple of good ol' Canadian hockey boys doing the job well," said Stuart, channeling his inner Don Cherry after the game.
Sopotyk would add an empty netter late for his second of the night.
THAT TAYLOR GOATYER (Gauthier) IS REALLY KEEPIN @PGCougars IN IT. GOTTA GET MORE PUCKS IN DEEP IN THE NEXT PERIOD. LET’S GO! #CherryTweets pic.twitter.com/D560xVO6H2
— Kamloops Matters (@KamloopsMatters) February 2, 2019
Kamloops finished the night 0 for 4 on the power play, while Prince George was 1 of 5. In net, Gauthier stopped 40 of 43 shots he faced, while Ferguson turned away 26 of 27.
The win continues a dominant run for the Blazers against the Cougars. They've taken all six meetings between these teams this season and 10 of the last 12.
The Blazers are once again even with the Seattle Thunderbirds for the last playoff spot in the West, while the Cougars are seven points back of both squads.
Prince George now heads to Vancouver, while Kamloops plays the Kelowna Rockets tonight at Prospera Place.
Puck drop is at 7:05 p.m.
