Losing the game may not have been as devastating as losing their captain.
In Game 1 of an opening-round Western Hockey League playoff series Friday night in Kelowna, the Prince George Cougars fell 4-1 to the Kelowna Rockets. In a best-of-seven series, the Cats certainly have time to bounce back. But, they may have to move forward without Brett Connolly, their locker-room leader and top offensive talent. Connolly, who fired a team-leading 46 goals during the regular season, left Friday's contest part way through his first shift with a suspected arm injury.
"I don't know how serious [the injury is]," said Cougars head coach Dean Clark. "I can tell you it's an upper body injury, but other than that I don't know a whole lot more. Obviously we'll find out more later tonight and [Saturday] morning."
The Rockets and Cats were tied 1-1 in the third period but a miscue by Prince George defenceman Sena Acolatse led to the winning goal for the home team. While the Rockets were on a power play, Acolatse tried to clear the zone but didn't get enough mustard on the puck. It was picked off by Shane McColgan, who quickly sent it down low to teammate Geordie Wudrick, and Wudrick wasted no time in beating goaltender Ty Rimmer.
Later in the third, Damon Severson extended the Kelowna lead to 3-1 when he held the puck in at the blueliine and fired it high through a crowd of bodies. Rimmer, on his knees and fighting for a decent view of the puck, had it go over his shoulder and into the net.
Mitchell Callahan completed the scoring when he hit an empty net at the 18:19 mark.
On Saturday, see The Citizen and pgcitizen.ca for more.
