The last time he saw a Prince George Cougars jersey on the ice, Aaron Macklin had his bare fists clenched around it.
That sweater belonged to Cougars assistant captain Alex Forsberg, who didn't like the open-ice hit Macklin laid on Cougars winger Brett Roulston and showed his displeasure by dropping the gloves. Macklin was only too happy to oblige and after a brief scuffle they were sent to the penalty box.
That happened Nov. 10 in Kamloops, a wild game that ended in an 8-7 overtime Cougars' win.
This week, the Cougars acquired the 18-year-old Macklin in a trade that sent 17-year-old forward Carson Bolduc to Kamloops. Macklin arrived on Wednesday and he'll get his first chance to impress a home crowd at CN Centre tonight (7 p.m.) when the Cougars face the Vancouver Giants.
"I don't know who got the better of who in that fight, I think it would be wrong to say," said Macklin. "We're teammates now and that's all in the past."
Forsberg said they haven't talked about that fight and probably won't broach the subject now that Macklin is a Cougar.
"Obviously he's a pretty nice kid and we don't hold any grudges and we've put it behind us," said Forsberg. "He's a physical player and we need that. He brings a big work ethic and I think he's one of those guys who works hard every night and battles and competes. I don't think he's a flashy player. We kind of need a guy who will take care of the D-zone first."
The Cougars and Blazers have played each other four times so far in what will be a 10-game season series and Macklin has always looked forward to renewing the rivalry. He won't see the Blazers again until they come to Prince George in early January.
"They were always tough games playing P.G. -- we both don't like each other and that made the competition more fun," said Macklin. "I love playing the body and getting into the odd fight and that made it fun against P.G. because they like to do it too. They're hard to play against."
In 25 games with Kamloops playing left wing, Macklin totaled three goals seven points and 25 penalty minutes. The six-foot-two, 193-pound native of High River, Alta., joined the Blazers last season and contributed a goal and three assists in 62 games as well as three goals in 13 playoff games.
"He's a big body and he gets to the net and creates havoc down low in the offensive zone and if he's responsible defensively and provides energy as a big rugged winger than he's certainly going to help," said Cougars head coach Mark Holick. "We expect him t crash the net and stick up for himself and his teammates and provide some offence when he gets an opportunity."
