Jordan Waterston slipped the puck underneath goalie Holden Taylor to break a 5-5 tie to help the College Heights Cougars edge the Prince George Polars 6-5 Friday afternoon.
Waterston's goal, his third of the contest, was scored with four minutes left in regulation as College Heights won the 12th annual Spirit of Hockey and Community Cup game between the two high school hockey teams at CN Centre.
It was the fourth time College Heights won the game, as PGSS - which came into the game as the defending champion - holds an 8-4 edge in the series.
The game, all in the name of giving, didn't disappoint.
There were 1,500 screaming students, with banners and drums.
There was a laser light show and live organ music thanks to the WHL's Prince George Cougars.
"It's pretty exciting for the kids and the fans to see a close game," said CHSS coach Jay Guillet. "It keeps everyone into the game. We just had two practices in the last two weeks and called everyone together."
The first period ended in a 1-1 tie, thanks to goals from Tyler Marsh for the Cougars and Jayden Powar for the Polars.
Waterston gave College Heights a two-goal cushion in the first five minutes of the second period until Isaiah Berra scored for PGSS to narrow the lead to 3-2. Marsh and Elijah Goyer extended the Cougars' lead to 5-2, until Berra scored his second of the game with 90 seconds left in the period.
In the third, the Polars knotted it at 5-5 on goals from Markus Plamondon and Mitch Truefit in a five-minute span.
Both teams kept pressing until Waterston scored what turned into the winner.
Josh Fielding, a Grade 9 student who plays Tier 3 bantam hockey, earned the win in net for CHSS.
"After the second period we told them to keep playing hard like you have been playing the entire game," said Guillet. "[Josh] did a tremendous job - I coached him in peewee rep Tier 4. We needed a goalie and he said sure."
After the final whistle blew, both teams shook hands at centre ice and posed together for a group photo.
The Cougars were then awarded the Spirit of Hockey and Community Cup and hoisted it high in the air.
"The teams were both evenly-matched and it was a ton of fun," said PGSS coach Renzo Berra, noting the Polars only had one practice prior to Friday's game. "This game is all about promoting hockey and we're very proud of the kids. They're very well-deserving of this opportunity. As much as we would've liked to have won, full marks to College Heights. They were very, very good and quick on their feet."
For the first time in Spirit Cup history, the game featured 11 female players who play bantam and midget hockey.
PGSS even had an all-girls five-player unit of forwards Sage Desjardins, Hunter Mosher and Ava Keis, and defencemen Chantelle Beadman-Rolfe and Sydney Jordan. They're part of the Northland Dodge Northern Female Cougars, who compete in the B.C. triple-A midget league.
"Kudos to girls hockey in Prince George, we haven't had that many girls in this game before," said Guillet.
"All the girls were impressive - they pay attention to detail," added coach Berra. "They were second to none, especially on their give-and-go plays. They were a very impressive group."
Both teams were also impressed with the staff of the WHL Cougars, who made the Spirit Game extra special.
"The WHL Cougars really stepped up. It was a great experience," said Berra. "The players wanted to come out and watch the laser show [prior to the game]. The fans got a show and we know it takes a lot of manpower for them. The Cougars really added so much to this game. They deserve a huge pat on the back."
Besides the action on the ice, College Heights collected food for the St. Vincent de Paul Society while PGSS collected funds for the Salvation Army.
Both schools and their feeder schools also teamed up to collect gloves, tuques and socks for those in need.
Players on the Cougars included: Ryan Mager, Clara King, Douglas Porter, Bailey Mcfaul, Colton Illingworth, Tyler Marsh, Drew Peterson, Jordan Waterston, Tanner Riplinger, Nadine Kwiatkowski, Mishayla Christensen, Curtis MacDonald, Elijah Goyer, Evan Guillet, Chris Metcalfe, Brendan Mosley, Jared Apolczer, Dawson Brenian, Mikayla Drapeau and Josh Fielding.
Players on the Polars were: Holden Taylor, Jayden Powar, Jarrod Brownson, Parker Dowhy, Mitch Truefit, Marius Woelki, Tristan Tinker, Sage Desjardins, Anthony Gagnon, Tanisha Hamilton, Chantelle Beadman-Rolfe, Connor Scully, Sydney Jordan, Hunter Mosher, Jessica Rolfes, Cam Andrist, Ava Keis, Dalton Williamson, Isaiah Berra, Markus Plamondon and Alex Hinsche.
