Behind Nathan Warren's sixth shutout of the season the Cariboo Cougars solved the Vancouver Northwest Giants for the first time in more than a year, handing the Giants a 4-0 loss Sunday at the Prince George Coliseum.
The sophomore goalie for the Cougars stopped all 24 shots he faced, helping his team deny the Giants of the season sweep. The Giants had won the first three meetings of the season.
Braiden Epp opened the scoring for the Cougars with a power-play marker in the opening period of the B.C. Major Midget League game to put the home side up 1-0. Epp was the only Cougar to score in Saturday's 6-2 loss to the Giants.
Kirk Hards made it 2-0 in the second period before Logan Styler scored a pair of goals to put the Cougars up 3-0 after 40 minutes and then added a second goal midway through the final frame to dash the Giants chances of a comeback.
Epp and Liam Blackburn both had three-point games Sunday. For Warren it was his 12th win of the season and the six shutouts leads all MML goalies. He has been in the Cougars' net for five of their six losses.
In Saturday's 6-2 loss at CN Centre the Cougars outshot the Giants 35-30 but a lackluster first period had the home side down 3-0. The Cougars pulled within a goal at 3-2 in the second period but the momentum died when the Giants restored a two-goal lead with a power play goal.
The loss was the Cougars third straight on home ice.
With the win the Cougars (18-6) conclude the first half of the MML season in third place, six points in arrears of the Giants (20-2-2) and four back of the Okanagan Rockets (18-2-4).
Cariboo's annual alumni game will be played Sunday at CN Centre. After stuffing themselves with turkey on Christmas Day the Cougars head to Calgary where they'll take part in the annual Mac's Midget Tournament starting Boxing Day. The Cougars will find out their schedule and opponents on Tuesday.
