Based in the northernmost outpost of the Western Hockey League, the Prince George Cougars are unavoidably road warriors, logging more highway kilometres than most of their opponents.
Lately, however, that warrior tag does not reflect the fate the Cougars have met in opposition rinks.
Wednesday's 5-2 loss in Medicine Hat continued an unenviable trend that cropped up for the Cats with the start of the new year.
When the ball dropped on 2011, they were two games above .500 in games away from CN Centre, sporting a 9-7-1-0 record. But in nine road games since then, they've won just once, going 1-8-0-0 during that six-week stretch.
The current five-game, six-day trip they're on started ominously with a 6-5 loss in Edmonton in which the Oil Kings scored four unanswered goals in the third period to shock the Cats. While Wednesday's effort was much better in the eyes of head coach Dean Clark, the outcome was the same. No points.
The Cats tried to work out some of the bugs in practice Thursday in Medicine Hat and they'll try to get back on the winning side of the ledger tonight (6 p.m., 99.3 FM The Drive) in Lethbridge against the Hurricanes. In their only other meeting this season, Oct. 8 in Lethbridge, the Cougars lost 4-1.
The Hurricanes currently rank 10th overall in the Eastern Conference. Owners of a 18-26-3-8 record, the 'Canes are just two points out of seventh place. The loss to the Tigers dropped the Cougars' record to 26-25-2-1. They remain third in the B.C. Division, four points ahead of the fourth-place Kamloops Blazers and five behind the second-place Kelowna Rockets. The Cats are dangerously close to falling in the conference standings. They rank sixth in the West, one point in front of the Everett Silvertips, who play host to Spokane tonight.
Expect Ty Rimmer to get the start for the Cougars in goal tonight. Clark was not happy with James Priestner's performance in Medicine Hat. The 20-year-old goalie allowed four goals on 20 shots as the Cats outshot the Tigers 43-20.
The Cougars have three games back-to-back this weekend. They'll be in Calgary to play the Hitman on Saturday, then take on the Central Division-leading Red Deer Rebels on Sunday.
