The Farr Fabricating Cougars stopped trying to set up the perfect play. Then they started filling the net.
During their Friday opener at the Panago Bantam Tier 1 Hockey Tournament, the Cats blasted Quesnel 16-0. Playing at Kin 1, the Cougars led just 1-0 after the first period but exploded for five goals in the middle frame and 10 more in the final 20 minutes.
"We had some chances (in the first) but we were trying to be too cute and too pretty," said Farr Fab coach Al Loring. "We just told them to get shots on net and go for rebounds and stuff like that. The puck started going in and just kept going in."
Prince George competes at the Tier 1 level, while Quesnel is a Tier 2 club.
Thane Anderson, with five goals, was the offensive leader for the Cats. Gabe Mason and Liam Blackburn both added hat tricks, Justin Schwing and Markus Plamondon chipped in with two goals apiece and Logan Styler had a single. In the Prince George nets, Lindsay Loring picked up the shutout. He wasn't overly busy but made some big stops in the first period.
"They had a five-on-three (power play) and the kids played well to keep them from scoring and he made a couple saves that were key," Al Loring said. "After that, the kids played well. They back-checked well and helped Lindsay get that shutout. They were pretty pumped."
In a Friday night game, the Cats skated against Westside and settled for a 6-6 tie. Styler and Mason both scored twice for Prince George, while Anderson and Blackburn also found the mark. Mitch Profeit was between the pipes for the Cats.
Today, the 13- and 14-year-old Cougars have two games scheduled. At 10 a.m., they'll face Fort St. John. Then, at 5 p.m., they'll meet Terrace. Both those contests will unfold at Kin 1. The Cats will finish round-robin play Sunday (7:30 a.m., Kin 1) against the other P.G. team in the tournament, the Integris Credit Union Tier 2 Cougars. The top two clubs in the six-team event will qualify for the gold-medal game, Sunday at 12:30 p.m. at Kin 1.
In other results from Friday, the Integris Cats dumped Fort St. John 6-2 and beat Terrace 7-1. Prince George marksmen against Fort St. John were Steven Jandric (2), Koltin Chasse (2), Brogan O'Brien and Austin Gray. In the win against Terrace, O'Brien led the way with two goals and one assist.
Today, the Integris Cougars will play Westside (7:30 a.m., Kin 1) and Quesnel (6 p.m., Kin 2).
