Less than 24-hours after they nearly blew a four-goal advantage the Cariboo Cougars overcame a two-goal deficit to sweep the Greater Vancouver Canadians on the weekend.
The Cougars took a 4-0 lead into the third period of Saturday's B.C. Major Midget League Showcase weekend game at the Richmond Oval and gave up three goals holding on for a 4-3 win. Sunday, the situation was reversed but with better results as the Cougars needed a come-from-behind effort in a 6-5 win.
Jesse Roach, younger brother of former Cougar and Los Angeles Kings' prospect Alex Roach, played hero for the Cougars picking up a hat trick and an assist in Sunday's win. Roach's second goal of the game came about two minutes after the Canadians had taken a 5-3 lead midway through the third period, tying the game at 5-5. Brogan O'Brien cut into the Canadians 5-3 lead only 23 seconds later with an unassisted marker to make it 5-4.
Roach scored the winner with less than four minutes to play, set up by O'Brien and Steven Jandric. The Cougars than held the Canadians off the scoreboard to maintain their only lead of the game.
O'Brien had two goals and two helpers in the 6-5 win and Donovan Law had a two-point game including the Cougars other goal.
Rookie Lane Delfs played in net for the Cougars in both games, picking up his first two BCMML wins. Owen Seidel beat Delfs twice for the Canadians, with Scott Munro, Sean Gillespie and Dante Hannoun scoring singles Sunday.
On Saturday, O'Brien, Todd Bredo, Bryan Allbee and Kole Comin staked the Cougars to a 4-0 lead. O'Brien also had an assist while Roach had two helpers. In the third period, Ryan Wilkinson, Nathan McCarnan and Hannoun beat Delfs, but the Cougars were able to preserve the one-goal lead in the final nine minutes.
The Cougars open up the home portion of the schedule this weekend against the Fraser Valley Thunderbirds - winless in their first three games, but playing the late game Sunday at the Showcase against the North Island Silvertips (2-1). The Cougars and Thunderbirds face off Saturday, 3:30 p.m. and Sunday, 9:15 a.m. at CN Centre.
