They have been one of the highest-scoring teams in the B.C. Hockey Major Midget League this season. But, the Cariboo Cougars saw their offensive production dry up during weekend road games against the Greater Vancouver Canadians.
Playing at UBC, the Cougars lost 2-1 on Saturday and 4-1 on Sunday.
"We had a hard time scoring goals," said Cougars head coach Trevor Sprague. "Our last four games in the league, we've only had four goals. We struggled to capitalize on a very good goalie. He was a man among boys on the weekend."
The Greater Vancouver goaltender in both contests was Tristan Jarry, a top prospect of the WHL's Edmonton Oil Kings and a guy who will stop pucks for Team B.C. at the upcoming Canada Winter Games in Halifax.
In the weekend opener, Levon Johnson was the only Cariboo shooter who got a puck past Jarry. In the rematch, Nathan Craft gave the Cats their lone goal. This season, the Cats are averaging 4.6 goals per game.
In the 11-team league, the Canadians now sit third with an 18-6-4 record. The Cougars, at 17-10-1, are one spot back.
Despite the two losses, Sprague said he was "actually pretty happy" with the way the team played.
"We worked really hard, we finished our checks, we did the things that make us successful but we came out on the wrong side of the score," he said.
Johnson, a 17-year-old forward from Quesnel, injured a knee during the doubleheader and is in danger of missing the MML all-star game, slated for Friday night in Chase. Other Cariboo players chosen to skate in the showcase contest are Josh Connolly, Luke Gordon, Tyson Witala, Jared Crossan and Jared Rathjen. Sprague will be one of the coaches.
The Cougars also have league games this coming weekend. They'll battle the Kootenay Ice (6-14-6) Saturday in Chase and Sunday in Kamloops.
