An optimist would look at the Cariboo Cougars weekend in Vancouver as being a glass half full.
The Cougars rebounded from a 3-2 loss to the Vancouver Northwest Giants (2-1-1) on Saturday to earn a split Sunday with an identical 3-2 win in the B.C. Major Midget Hockey League.
Trevor Sprague, Cougars coach, credited his team for sticking together Sunday, despite having three goals disallowed.
"It was some adversity for our guys and our leadership group kept the guys focused and ready to go," said Sprague. "We had a lot of good communication on the bench."
The coach said he was also happier to see the Cougars compete for the full game, after Saturday's less than stellar effort.
Hayden-James Berra, Ryan Forbes and Jake LeBrun scored in the Cougars' win. Berra's goal was his second of the season. Tanner Fjellstrom had an assist, giving the Cougars' captain three helpers in the two games against the Giants.
Nathan Craft scored both Cougars goals in Saturday's loss.
David Readman started both games in net for Cariboo, stopping 30-of-33 shots in the first game and 28 shots on Sunday.
The Cougars were without forward Josh Connolly, out with a concussion suffered in the team's opening weekend. Connolly was still bothered by headaches and hasn't been cleared to practice.
Eli Jarvis banged up his knee on the weekend and is questionable for the Cougars' road trip to Langley, while Brett Harris is out 12 weeks with a torn rotator cuff.
The Cougars (3-1-0) return to the Lower Mainland for a pair of games Saturday and Sunday against the Valley West Hawks.
