The Fortwood Homes Cougars are building themselves one solid hockey season.
The Cougars, a peewee Tier 4 rep team from the Prince George Minor Hockey Association, skated to a tournament victory Sunday in Grande Prairie. In the final, they defeated the Smoky River Raiders 4-0.
Two weekends ago, the Cats placed second at a tournament in Fraser Lake, so they are moving in the right direction as a team.
"It's so much fun to witness them having success and believing in themselves, and it's another step after finishing second in Fraser Lake," said Cougars coach Denny Astorino. "We got balanced scoring in the playoffs here, and more players playing aggressively and not sitting back and waiting for something to happen. It also really helps when our goalies have been so good lately. They are competing hard for that No. 1 spot."
In Sunday's game, Michael Rolfes, Evan Guillet, Ryan Hampe and Zach Swanson did the scoring for the Cougars and goaltender Nic Husband got the shutout. Quinten Astorino was chosen as Prince George's player of the game.
In the semifinal round, the 11- and 12-year-old Cats knocked off the Grande Prairie Knights 3-1. In that game, Hampe fired two power-play goals, while Swanson also scored in a man-advantage situation. In goal, Josh Fielding picked up the win. Hampe was the Cougars' player of the game.
Smoky River was undefeated prior to the final. The Raiders thumped Ridge Valley 8-3 in their semifinal contest.
Earlier in the tournament, the Cougars beat the Manning Comets 3-0, battled the Knights to a 2-2 tie and dumped the Spirit River Rangers 5-2.
The Cats will host a tournament Jan. 4-6. Teams from Mackenzie, Chetwynd, Fraser Lake, Houston, Fort St. James, Quesnel and Burns Lake are slated to attend.
