The Thompson Blazers got sharp goaltending all weekend. That, combined with a lack of finish around the net by the Cariboo Cougars, allowed the Blazers to pick up three of a possible four points from a pair of B.C. Hockey Major Midget League games in Kamloops.
On Saturday, the Cougars needed a late goal from Chase Dubois to salvage a 3-3 tie with the Blazers. The next day, the hosts skated to a 2-1 victory. In both games, the Cougars badly outshot the Blazers but were continually stymied by goalies Aris Anagnostopoulos (Saturday) and Max Palaga (Sunday). The Cats, said head coach Trevor Sprague, were also guilty of not bearing down on their chances. On the other hand, he added, the Blazers took full advantage of the limited opportunities they generated.
"We outplayed them in every category, except goals-for," Sprague said. "(Their goalies) were stopping first, second and third shots. The battle that both those goalies had on rebounds was very impressive. We knew going down there that games were going to be won by their goaltending. If their goaltending doesn't show up, then they lose. But everybody plays their best game against us too, so we just have to be better - better on finishing our stuff.
"We've outshot every single team we've played this year," Sprague continued. "And 40 shots or more. So our traffic and our second and third efforts in front of the net maybe need to be better."
In the Saturday contest, Dubois netted the equalizer with Cougars goalie Dorrin Luding on the bench in favour of an extra attacker. With 41 seconds left on the clock, Dubois scored the type of goal Sprague would like to see more often.
"It was one of those greasy goals," he said. "We got it in front and Chase was right there and ended up pounding it in on the side of the net."
The Cougars, on second-period markers by defencemen Jesse Pomeroy and Joel Patsey, had been ahead 2-0, only to see the Blazers come back with goals by Brendan Mongey (seven seconds left in the middle frame), Harley Bootsma and Matthew Facchinelli.
On Sunday, the Blazers built a 2-0 lead on goals by Facchinelli and Jett Saharchuk. Josh Maser, with just under eight minutes left in the second period, had the lone goal for the Cougars. In the nets, Palaga got the win and Aaron Jakubowski took the loss.
In the 11-team league, the Cougars are in sixth place with a 4-4-2 record. The Blazers are ninth at 2-4-2.
The Cougars have home games this coming weekend against the South Island Royals (4-2-2). Start times at Kin 1 are 7:15 p.m. on Saturday and 9:15 a.m. on Sunday. On Saturday, admission will be by donation, with proceeds going to support breast cancer research. In recognition of the cause, the Cougars will be wearing special pink jerseys paid for by Shawn and Art Julian of the Taba Group, based in Fort St. James.
"We appreciate that," Sprague said. "It's kind of cool. It's the first time the Major Midget League has been able to do not necessarily a third jersey but a set of pink jerseys to do this. So it's another step forward for major midget."
