Sport Hockey Day in Canada

Adam Vickers
Sports Editor

his year, Prince George had the great
LT opoortanity of participating in what
should be a national holiday; the yearly
hockey day in Canada run by Hockey Night
in Canada. The event featured a full day of
Canadian hockey teams playing from coast
to coast. In Prince George, the match up
included the Prince George Cougars and
the Edmonton Oil Kings of the Western
Hockey League. The Cougars have had a
rough season, facing numerous injuries to
their line-up, and the Oil Kings have tons of
talent with seven players drafted in the top
50 in recent NHL Drafts. One of those draft
picks include defencemen Griffin Rienhart,
who represented Canada in the recent
World Junior Hockey Championships. The
night before match up during Hockey Day
in Canada, the Cougars suffered a tough
loss to the Oil Kings (8-0).

down the one side of the interior stadium
behind the stands. All set for the
face-off, the game began with
a quick goal by the Oil Kings,
reminding fans of the

Heading into the Stadium for Hockey
Day in Canada, the Cougars had

free toques for those who
attended early enough,
as well as a puck-

throwing previous day's follies.
contest in The Cougars were
the second quick to respond
period. finishing the first
Free period 4-1. The
toques Cougars looked
were not good to start the
the only game, showing
draw to that they would
the game, not repeat the
as former performance
Vancouver of the
Canuck previous
goaltender night. The
Kirk Maclean second

was signing jerseys start was
before the game. Maclean much like the
drew a large crowd, as the line to get first with the Oil Kings

scoring a quick goal; the Cougars rallied to

autographs trailed nearly the whole way

score two more goals to bring the score to
6-2 entering the third period. Winger Tom
Fiddler would complete his hat trick in
the second period that saw a flurry of red
toques, free from entering the game, were
thrown to the ice celebrating the Cougars
goal. In the third period, the Cougars gave
up their 6-2 lead, forcing overtime ina
game that should not have come close.
Overtime solved nothing, so the Cougars
and the Oil Kings went to a shootout where
the Cougars would ultimately fail to score
and allow the Oil Kings to pull away with
a gutsy win. The Cougars may have lost,
but it was a great sight seeing the stadium
resemble the crowds of old when players
like Dan Hamhuis, Dustin Byfuglien, and
Devin Setigouchi showcased their talent.
Hockey Day in Canada for Prince George
would end in disappointment for the home
team but if anything it was a great hockey
game and a great atmosphere.

ev

- SO iatng Staren Mtge

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