It wasn't a very happy New Year for the Prince George Cougars in Kamloops as the top team in the Western Hockey League's B.C. Division handed the Cats a 5-0 loss at the Interior Savings Centre in front of 3,707 fans.
The Cougars (13-23-0-2) actually out shot the Blazers (26-10-1-2) 10-9 in the first period, but trailed 1-0 heading into the second frame when the newly acquired Brandon Herrod gave the home team a 2-0 lead with a power-play goal. Herrod, 20, was traded from the Prince Albert Raiders (14-23-1-2) to the Blazers on New Year's Eve in exchange for Logan McVeig and a second-round pick in the 2012 bantam draft.
Tim Bozon then beat Cougars' goalie Drew Owsley with his 18th and 19th goals of the season, giving Kamloops a 4-0 advantage. Cole Ully finished the scoring with a power-play goal.
The Blazers went 3-for-8 with the man-advantage, while the Cougars were 0-for-3.
With one minute remaining in the game the teams squared off in a good old-fashioned line brawl, setting the stage for this weekend's doubleheader at CN Centre - Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m.
