Drew Owsley has given the Prince George Cougars a chance to win almost every night this season, so it was no surprise when he started his 11th consecutive game Wednesday.
The 20 year old delivered his usual consistent goaltending in the Cougars' net, while his teammates provided some offence, sending the announced crowd of 2,532 at CN Centre home happy with a 3-1 win over the Calgary Hitmen (17-16-2-1).
John Odgers and Austin Daae scored their first Western Hockey League goals, while Troy Bourke potted his ninth of the season for the Cougars. The win helped the Cougars (13-21-0-2) stay within striking distance of the eighth, and final, playoff spot in the Western Conference. The Victoria Royals (13-20-2-2) are two points up on Prince George after
losing 6-3 in Portland.
In his last 11 starts, Owsley has a 7-4 record (12-18-0-1 overall) and had a .912 save percentage over that span prior to making 37 saves Wednesday. The win was only the fourth the Cougars recorded on home ice this season.
Cody Sylvester was the only Hitmen to beat Owsley when he took advantage of some sloppy play by the Cougars in the second period to tie the game at 1-1. Sylvester's 14th goal of the season came seconds after Owsley stoned him on a breakaway.
The Cougars regained the lead before the period was over when Odgers redirected defenceman Josh Smith's point shot past Hitmen goalie Brandon Glover. Daae notched his first WHL goal midway through the third period, taking a perfect feed on a two-on-one from Calab Belter.
World stage
Alex Forsberg had an assist for Team West in a 3-2 exhibition loss against Germany at the 2012 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Windsor, Ont. The 16 year old led the Cougars in goals (11) and points (26) at the Christmas break. Jordan Tkatch and Jarrett Fontaine are also suiting up for Team West.
The tournament gets underway today as Team West takes on Chase Witala and Team Pacific.
Hitmen forward Greg Chase is also a part of Team Pacific. Chase had a goal and 10 assists for the Hitmen this season.
The Hitmen were also without Victor Rask (16 goals, 29 points) as he is playing for Sweden at the World Junior Championship in Calgary. Sweden slipped past Switzerland 4-3 in a shootout Wednesday.
Cougars' defenceman Martin Marincin is competing for Slovakia at the WJC in Calgary.
The 19 year old picked up an assist in Slovakia's 3-1 win over Latvia on Boxing Day. Last night, Slovakia lost 3-1 to Russia.
Cougars notes
Odgers drew into the Cougars' lineup against the Hitmen with five regulars off at various world events and Brock Hirsche (shoulder) and Shane Pilling (unknown) nursing
injuries.
Odgers, an 18-year-old left winger, from Spy Hill, Sask., is the son of former NHL tough guy Jeff (2,364 penalty minutes in 821 games) and plays in the Saskatchewan Junior A Hockey League for the Yorkton Terriers where he's amassed two points and 38 penalty
minutes in 26 games.
On deck
The Cougars travel to Vancouver for a game Friday with the Giants before starting 2012 in Kamloops against the Blazers on Sunday. The Blazers are in Prince George for games Jan. 6 and 7.
