The Cariboo Cougars aren't in a good spot.
After their first two games at the Mac's AAA Midget Hockey Tournament in Calgary, the Cats have a 0-2 record and only a slim chance of making the playoff round.
The latest loss for the 15- to 17-year-old Cariboo club came on Tuesday. The Cougars got the first goal against the Sherwood Park Kings but ended up on the wrong end of a 6-2 score.
To advance to playoffs, the Cougars need to win their final two round-robin games, today against the San Jose Sharks and Thursday against the Calgary Northstars. The Cats also require another victory by the Beardy's Blackhawks, who are 3-0 thus far and play the Northstars today.
Cariboo head coach Trevor Sprague is starting to wonder if his team is in love with itself. Earlier this season in the B.C. Hockey Major Midget League, the Cats strung together 12 consecutive wins. But, lately, they have gotten away from the things that made them successful -- playing with a physical edge and making simple, smart decisions with the puck.
"We've got to get back to grinding and playing the way a northern team needs to play," Sprague said.
"We're making too many (mistakes). Teams here are a little stronger and faster and (our players) don't have the time and space to do what they could do maybe in our league. It's knowing what you're doing with the puck, communicating more and second efforts on the puck -- winning those battles."
On Tuesday, Luke Gordon scored the opening goal after he was sprung free by a pass from Nathan Craft. But, by the end of the first period, the Kings had a 2-1 advantage. Sherwood Park extended its lead to 4-1 in the second before Chase Astorino replied for the Cats. The Kings then scored the only two goals of the third.
The Cougars were outshot 32-23.
"Our top players have to be our best players on the ice and that didn't happen (Tuesday)," Sprague said. "We have to get back to them playing well and being accountable for what they do out there. If they choose to be on the same line as the rest of the team they're going to do fine but if they veer off and be selfish in certain areas of the arena they're obviously not going to be successful."
