Game plans don't usually involve falling behind and playing catch-up.
The strategy, however, seems to work just fine for the Prince George peewee Tier 3 Cougars.
During a pair of weekend games against the Quesnel Thunder, the Cougars staged comebacks that resulted in an 8-8 tie and a 5-4 win. Both games were played at Kin 3.
In Saturday's high-scoring deadlock, the Cats trailed 6-3 after two periods and went down 8-3 at the 3:02 mark of the third. Instead of giving up, the Cougars elevated their play and rattled off five consecutive goals in the next 10 minutes. With about one minute to go, Branthur Federucci appeared to score a go-ahead goal but it was waved off because the referee said Federucci had a foot in the crease.
Even though they didn't get the win, the Cougars received high praise from head coach Mario Federucci for their never-say-die attitude.
"It was amazing to see the effort and to see the kids not quit in an 8-3 game," Mario Federucci said. "I was so proud of every one of the kids on that team."
Branthur Federucci finished the game with a hat trick and one assist. Ashton Kraska added two goals and one helper, while Reid Mosdell, Colby Clarke and Skylar Miller all had single goals. Shawn Davis and William Tanemura shared the puck-stopping duties in the Prince George nets.
In Sunday's rematch, the Cougars found themselves down 2-0 after the first period. But, in the second, they leveled the score on goals 47 seconds apart by Kraska and Branthur Federucci and went on to record the victory.
The result could have been much more lopsided, coach Federucci said.
"We dominated the game and if it wasn't for their goalie we would have won by a lot more," he said.
Kraska and Branthur Federucci led the Prince George offence with two goals and two assists each. Clarke had one goal and Mosdell finished with three assists. Davis was the winning goaltender.
In the Cariboo Amateur Hockey Association, the Cougars now have a 2-1-1 record.
This weekend, they will be in Williams Lake for a pair of exhibition games.
