Head coach Mark Holick wasn't mincing words to describe the dire straits the Prince George Cougars have landed in to start the new year.
"There's only one direction to go," said Holick. "We lost three games and gave up 18 goals so it's pretty tough to find any positives at all. This is our worst stretch of the season by a mile and we have to fix it. We have to try to get these players on the right track."
Trips to Victoria and Vancouver last weekend were pointless efforts that put a bitter end on 2013 for the wounded Cats, who now find themselves five points out of a playoff spot as they begin a four-game homestand tonight at CN Centre against the Kamloops Blazers.
The Cougars' weekend started with an 8-1 pasting in Victoria, followed by a 5-2 loss in the rematch. They weren't much better Monday in another 5-2 defeat in the land of the Giants and Hoick's finger of blame pointed directly at his veteran forwards, who managed only five goals in the three games.
"We need better from our better guys --- (Troy) Bourke, (Zach) Pochiro, (Alex) Forsberg, (Klarc) Wilson, (Jordan) Tkatch -- and it's been few and far between for some of them," said Holick. "There has to be a higher demand from themselves of how they want to approach the game. They wouldn't be in the league if we didn't think they were hockey players and we have to make sure they bring that effort every night."
While he's been picked to play goal for Team Cherry in the BMO NHL/CHL Prospects Game Jan. 15 in Calgary, Ty Edmonds has been alarmingly inconsistent and Cougar opponents have feasted on his mistakes. With 18-year-old Brett Roulston still a few weeks away from recovery from a groin injury, Edmonds has had to handle the load in the Cougar nets and his shortcomings have been glaringly obvious.
"I thought Ty was sub-par all weekend," said Holick. "I know he's only 17 and he's playing more hockey than he ever has in his life but he has to find a way to fight back and we have to be better in front of him. We can't be allowing those back-door tap-ins."
Injuries have crippled the Cougars and that list continues to grow. Chase Witala, who leads the Cats in goals with 18 and ranks third in team scoring with 31 points, suffered a lower-body injury in the first period of Friday's game in Victoria and is listed as day-to-day. Then on Saturday in Victoria, 20-year-old defenceman Peter Kosterman broke his jaw when he got hit by a puck. He's expected to be out a minimum of six weeks.
The Cats are also without forwards Jari Erricson (concussion), Brett Roulston (broken foot) and David Soltes (knee). Roulston just had a walking cast removed and he'll be out at least another week or 10 days. Brad Morrison and Jansen Harkins are playing this week for Team Pacific at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Nova Scotia, while defenceman Tate Olson is suiting up for Team West at the same tournament.
With Kosterman out and Olson unavailable that puts the onus on Marc McNulty, Sam Ruopp, Martin Bobos, Zach Gonek, Raymond Grewal and Joshua Smith to pick up the duties on defence. Grewal returned for Saturday's game in Victoria after missing nine games with a sprained ankle. Smith, a 19-year-old who started the season in the AJHL with Okotoks, has been a solid addition since joining the Cougars Dec. 15, giving them a much-needed right-hand shot on the point. Cougar fans in the building tonight will get their first look at Smith since he left the team for the junior A ranks in January 2012.
"He plays the game hard, he likes to get involved physically and finish checks and he makes a good pass," said Holick.
The Blazers (10-25-2-2) are coming off a 7-1 win in Seattle on Tuesday. They trail the Cougars (14-22-2-3) by nine points. The Tri-City Americans, who host Portland tonight, rank eighth in the West, five points ahead of Prince George with one game in hand.
Forward Carson Bolduc, 17, has two goals and five points in 12 games for the Blazers since the Cougars traded him for winger Aaron Macklin.
