The Cariboo Cougars solidified their hold on second place in the British Columbia Major Midget League standings with a win and tie against the Okanagan Rockets at Kin 1 on the weekend.
After a 6-0 win Saturday where Cougars goalie David Readman made 43 saves for the shut out, Cariboo came out flat-footed Sunday morning as the Rockets opened up a 4-2 advantage. The home side fought back as Nathan Craft pulled the Cougars within a goal before captain Tanner Fjellstrom tied the game on a penalty shot with 65 seconds left.
The Cougars (20-8-5) are seven points ahead of the Vancouver NE Chiefs (17-10-4) and Greater Vancouver Canadians (16-11-6), while the Rockets (15-10-6) trail Cariboo by nine points. The Vancouver NW Giants (24-3-6) have a nine-point lead on the Cougars as both teams have seven games left. The Chiefs and Rockets have two games in hand on the Cougars.
The top two teams receive a first round bye in the playoffs and host a playoff game. The Cougars season has ended at the hands of the Giants the past two years.
Cariboo heads to Chase, B.C., for a pair of games with the Thompson Blazers (8-19-5) on Saturday at 4 p.m. and Sunday at 11 a.m.
