If it was about saving face, the Cariboo Cougars accomplished the goal.
The region's major midget hockey team rebounded after two losses at the Mac's major midget tournament in Calgary by pounding the San Jose Jr. Sharks 6-1, improving the Cougars' record to 1-2.
Still, it will not be enough to extend the team's stay in the Alberta city.
"We're heading home (today), one more game then head out," said head coach Trevor Sprague.
"This result just shows that you have to win one of those first two games, and that's something that maybe us, as coaches, didn't prepare the team properly for coming into this tournament. We could still be in the hunt and a chance to be in the playoffs with a win (today). Little things can cost you the weekend, but you can't dwell on it because we still played well in two of the three games and put in a good showing."
Seb Lloyd had two goals for the Cariboo Cougars, with singles from Jared Crossan, Chase Witala, Tyson Witala and Eli Jarvis adding singles. David Readman, normally the backup, picked up the win in goal.
"I think the biggest thing we've learned is who our leaders are, who our character guys are," said Sprague.
"It really brought out a lot of things with the guys on our team, some of it good and some of it bad stuff, too. It just depends on how people handle things, and now the players are on the bus, talking about it, and it may end up being something that allows us to move forward with our goal of winning a championship."
The Cougars opened the tournament with a 3-0 loss to the Beardy's Blackhawks, then fell 6-2 to the Sherwood Park Kings.
Today, in what will be their final game of the tournament, the Cats play the Calgary Northstars.
