The final chapter of the Prince George Cougars season begins tonight.
With only 10 games remaining in their Western Hockey League regular season the Cougars (18-36-2-6) chances of qualifying for the playoffs in the western conference are sinking fast, as they trail the eighth place Everett Silvertips (22-36-2-6) by five points for the final playoff spot. The Cats may even want to start looking in the rearview mirror at the basement-dwelling Vancouver Giants (17-45-2) who now trail the Cougars by eight points after a 5-3 win Wednesday in Kamloops over the Blazers.
The Cougars will be looking to accomplish a similar feat tonight, 7 p.m., when the Blazers (41-18-2-3) visit Prince George in their second-to-last appearance at CN Centre this season. In five games this season the Cougars are 1-1-1-2 versus the Blazers. The game marks the third game of a five-game home stand for the Cougars, which wraps up Monday and Tuesday when the Tri City Americans (37-22-1-2) visit. After a week-long road trip that'll take the Cougars to six cities in two countries, the Blazers return March 16 for the regular-season finale.
The Cougars began the home stand last weekend with a pair of losses to the WHL's top team, the Portland Winterhawks (51-11-1-2), falling 6-2 and 6-1.
Colin Jacobs leads the Cougars with 22 goals and 45 points this season with Troy Bourke trailing with 41 points. Chase Witala is second among Cats with 15 goals. But it's rookie Zach Pochiro who has led the Cougars on offence in recent weeks, recording 12 points in his last 10 games.
The Blazers are led by 19-year-old Colin Smith, who has 96 points this season and sits fourth among WHL scores behind a trio of Winterhawks - Brendan Leipsic (111), Nicolas Petan (109) and Ty Rattie (97).
Cats to hit links again
The Prince George Cougars will host their second annual alumni hospital charity golf tournament, Aug. 15-16 at the Prince George Golf and Curling Club in conjunction with the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation.
Fans will have the opportunity to golf with a past or present member of the Cougars. In addition to players arriving for the 2013-14 training camp, confirmed alumni that will participate include Vancouver Canucks' defenceman Dan Hamhuis, Tyler Brough, Dan Baum, Eric Hunter and Sena Acolatse to list a few of the former Cats who have already committed. Current Cougars captain, and Prince George native, Dan Gibb will also take part.
Last year there were 176 golfers at the tournament where more than $25,000 was raised for the Foundation.
The two-day festivities begin Aug. 15 with a meet and greet/autograph session from 4 to 5 p.m., followed by a social for the golfers and sponsors, with a live and silent auctions, from 5:30 to 9:30 p.m.
Friday the shotgun start golf tournament goes from 10 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., followed by dinner and award presentations at 5:30 p.m.
