They were expected to win and they did. But the Cariboo Cougars didn't get a glowing review from their head coach.
The Cougars, one of the top teams in the B.C. Hockey Major Midget League, faced the last-place Kootenay Ice Saturday and Sunday at Kin 1.
The Cats won the opener 8-1 and skated to an 8-2 victory in the second game. However, in the eyes of coach Trevor Sprague, they failed to put together a full 60 minutes in both contests. Sprague wasn't happy with his club's second-period performance in either game, or with the vibe he got from his players.
"At the end of the day, the guys that are in the room - it doesn't matter who they're playing with - they need to be better," he said.
"You need to work with the guys that you have, because you're a team. It's not about what's on the back of the jersey, it's about what's on the front."
The Cougars were missing two of their top forwards (Chase DuBois, broken ankle and Colton Thomas, dislocated kneecap) because of season-ending injuries and were also without defenceman Joel Patsey (lower body injury).
As well, forward Josh Maser was absent because he was with the WHL's Prince Albert Raiders. Even with so many regulars out of the lineup, Sprague expects a better all-around effort from his club.
"We had a lack of leadership on three of our lines, I thought," he said. "There was a little bit of complaining on the bench and a little bit of boo-hooing and not really playing for the Cariboo Cougars and the guys that are on those lines. It's something I hadn't seen out of this group yet and I was kind of shocked."
Sprague was happy with one forward line, the unit of Trey Thomas, Daine DuBois and Mason Richey.
"They were absolutely our best line this weekend, hands down," he said. "Now that that line has set the tone, that's the way everybody has to play."
Thomas, a 16-year-old from Williams Lake, scored twice in each game, as did Devin Sutton, a 16-year-old Prince George product.
With the wins, the 15- to 17-year-old Cougars improved to 24-7-3 and are battling the Valley West Hawks for first place in the 11-team league. The Ice, meanwhile, dropped to 4-26-2.
The weekend games were the last ones at home this regular season for the Cougars. They will play their final six on the road, beginning this coming weekend when they face the Fraser Valley Thunderbirds on Saturday and Sunday in Abbotsford.
