A game-saving stop by Marcus Beesley and superior play on special teams. Those two factors vaulted the Cariboo Cougars into the final round of playoffs, where they'll try to knock down their historical rival, the Vancouver Northwest Giants.
On Saturday night at Kin 1, in front of about 600 fans desperate for a fix of playoff hockey, the Cougars beat the Vancouver Northeast Chiefs 6-4. The victory gave the Cats a sweep in a best-of-three semifinal series in the Major Midget League. One night earlier, on the same sheet of ice, the Cougars downed the Chiefs 5-2.
In the clincher, the 17-year-old Beesley slid from post to post and stuffed Chiefs sniper Justin Georgeson on a scoring chance that would have tied the game 5-5. Seconds later, David Stephens scored an empty-net goal for the home side and the celebration started.
See Monday's Citizen for more.
