Without a lot of offensive support Troy Bourke hasn't been consistent in filling the net for the Prince George Cougars in his
sophomore season.
"I just need to pick up my game a little bit," said the Cougars' leading scorer with nine goals and 27 points. "This year's more of a defensive squad so I'm trying to play a little more defence. I just need to pick it up there's no excuses there."
The Cougars (13-25-0-2) are the lowest-scoring team in the Western Hockey League having potted just 90 goals in 40 games and have been outscored 13-1 in three games versus the B.C. Division leading Kamloops Blazers (27-10-1-2) in 2012, including a 6-1 loss Saturday in front of an announced crowd of 1,854 at CN Centre.
As a 16-year-old rookie last season, Bourke turned a lot of heads by putting up 19 goals and 42 points in 68 games, while spending Christmas helping Team Pacific win bronze at the 2011 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Winnipeg.
But with the offensive output last season from Brett Connolly (46 goals, 73 points); Taylor Stefishen (24, 67); defenceman Sena Acolaste (15, 63); James Dobrowolski (18, 52) and traded forwards Charles Inglis (32, 60) and Nick Buonassisi (18, 53) the job to score goals has fallen onto the 17-year-old's shoulders.
In 2010-2011 the Cougars finished the campaign with a 33-35-2-2 record while potting 258 goals in 72 games, while allowing 265 (this year they've allowed 127).
Bourke did have some chemistry with rookie Alex Forsberg (11 goals, 26 points) before the 16 year old missed the Cougars last five games - three due to his commitment with Team West at the under-17 hockey challenge in Windsor and the last two with an upper body injury - and head coach Dean Clark said when Forsberg returns to the Cougars' lineup, and with the addition of Daulton Siwak in a trade with the Red Deer Rebels, the trio will lead the way offensively for the remainder of the season.
"Unfortunately for Troy there's pretty high expectations because he's a really good offensive player," said Clark. "We just haven't provided him with enough support in the games."
Last year, the Cougars had three 20-year-old's contributing on the scoreboard with Stefishen, Acolaste and Dobrowolski, but among this year's over-age players is Drew Owsley - a goaltender - while defenceman Cody Carlson (four goals, 25 points) and forward Spencer Asuchak (10, 22) don't have the same scoring touch.
"Being 17 and being our leader offensively is a lot of stuff on his shoulders but I think it's something he can handle," said Clark about Bourke.
"We're going to give him all the support and help he needs to be the go-to player for us."
Trade Deadline
With the WHL trade deadline on Tuesday some of the Cougars may find themselves on route to a new team rather than suiting for Prince George in Vancouver in their final game with the Giants this season. The Cougars have nine defencemen on their roster and rotated them on the weekend sitting Josh Smith and Linden Springer for Friday's game, while Michael Mylchreest drew press box duty Saturday. Shane Pilling continues to struggle with an upper body injury.
Bourke said the trade deadline is just something guys have to put out of their minds.
"It's just a little anticipation, some guys may think they may be going but you can't let that affect you're game," said the Onoway, Alta. product.
Bourke, who is eligible for the 2012 NHL entry draft, said he just wants to lead the
Cougars to better times.
"I want to take this team to a championship, if it's not this year or next year then it's the year after that," he said.
A championship is on the radar for Prince George's Dylan Willick and his Blazers' teammates as they prepare for a visit from the WHL leading Tri-City Americans - five points ahead of the Blazers with two games in hand.
"There's a lot of confidence in our team right now," said Willick after picking up an assist in Saturday's game. "Everyone's excited to go to the rink and happy to play games. We have to prepare for [the Americans] because it's going to be a huge stepping stone for us just so we can show we're for real this year."
The Cougars are the youngest team in the WHL this season with six 16 year olds and four 17 year olds, a growing process Willick, in his third season in Kamloops, can relate to.
"A lot of the guys that are here today were here when I started so it's been a lot of development within the organization, adding in a few key trades and good draft picks and it's just what happens," said the grinning 19 year old.
