A Prince George hockey team this past weekend proved why they won their first-ever regular-season title by scoring goals on goals on goals.
The Cariboo Minor Midget Cougars potted 19 goals in two nights en route to easily sweeping the North Island Silvertips 2-0 on home ice in the opening round of the 2019-20 playoffs.
The Under-16 Cats outscored the ‘Tips 19-4, winning by scores of 9-2 on Friday (March 6) and 10-2 on Saturday (March 7), with 14 players getting onto the scoresheet at least once.
Captain Scott Cousins, Brady McIsaac and Maxwell Sanford each had eight points in two nights with McIsaac leading the way with five goals, including a hat-trick in Game One.
In Game Two, Linden Makow potted a hatty of his own, two goals came while on a power-play, part of his six-point quarter-final performance.
“Are you not entertained” is the look we are getting from @LindenMakow after that hat-trick goal last night. #ProtectTheDen #DefendTheNorth #CaribooHockey #Playoffs pic.twitter.com/R2n05cid9H
— Cariboo Cougars Minor Midget Hockey Club (@CC_MinorMidget) March 8, 2020
Goaltenders Tysen Smith and Jasper Tait each got a start in net for Cariboo.
Smith stopped 24 of 26 on Friday and Tait turned away 18 of 20 from North Island the next night.
Cougars’ special teams were also on fire, combining for eight power-play goals and one shorthanded marker courtesy of Makow with 1:18 left in the middle period of Game One.
The team also had two six-goal periods in back-to-back nights; the first came in the second stanza of Friday’s tilt, while the second happened in Saturday’s final frame.
That feeling when you wake up Sunday morning and realize you’re off to the 2nd round! 🏒🥅💪🏼#ProtectTheDen #CaribooHockey pic.twitter.com/o9JaGtjf1u
— Cariboo Cougars Minor Midget Hockey Club (@CC_MinorMidget) March 8, 2020
Prince George’s club will now host the Thompson Minor Midget Blazers in the best-of-three semi-finals this week.
The Cougars won the four-game season series, 3-1.
Due to the city hosting the 2020 World Women’s Curling Championships at the CN and Kin Centres, all games will be played at the Rolling Mix Concrete Arena (RMCA).
Games One and Two go for Friday (March 13) and Saturday (March 14), starting at 6:30 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. respectively.
Should the series be tied at 1-1, the third and deciding match is scheduled for Sunday (March 15), 1 p.m. from the RMCA.
