A seven-game winning streak that includes victories over three of their opponents in the eight-team event, combined with a season filled with success – the Cougars capped their regular-season campaign with a 13-6-4-1 record, a point back of Shawnigan and four back of Pilot Mound – has the local squad hoping for a solid showing when things kick off Thursday night in Penticton, B.C.
“Our last two weekends have been pretty good, so I think we’re starting to click at the right time,” said Cougars head coach Jordan Cheechoo during a short stopover in Revelstoke on Thursday morning “It’s really positive, it gives us a lot of confidence. But I think it also gives the other teams a little more motivation to play us, so we’re going to have to be ready for them.”
The Cougars find themselves in a pool alongside International Hockey Academy (5-17-1-1), Okanagan HA (6-16-1-1) and the aforementioned Shawnigan Lake School (14-6-3-1), with the news is good on all fronts as Prairie Hockey won all eight meetings against their round-robin opponents.
That includes four wins over IHA – with two hitting double digits on the scoreboard – and two wins each over Shawnigan and Okanagan.
It all helps on the mental side of things heading into the event, especially when it comes to the calibre of play they they’ll see throughout the weekend.
“We know what we’re going to be up against and it’s going to be tough competition,” Cheechoo said. “I think it’s a league where anyone can beat anyone, so you have to be on, right from day one.”
Defenceman Colton Aikens will lead the Cougars into Penticton after scoring 20 goals – half of those on the power play – and 38 points in 24 games, tops in the CSSHL Midget Varsity division. Lang Lee led the forward corps in scoring with 13 goals and 25 points; goaltenders Brody Hsaio (9-3. 2.10 GAA) and Ryley Gross (8-3-1, 2.21 GAA) finished third and fourth respectively among league netminders.
Making things especially interesting is the event marking one of the few times the Cougars will have a full line-up this season. Injuries have hampered the squad from the start of the campaign, making their record all the more impressive.
“I don’t think we’ve had too many games with a full line-up, so the guys are kind of used to that,” Cheechoo said. “But luckily for our first game out here we have everyone ready to go, and hopefully that little bit of extra rest on the bench will help out the boys.”
PHA faces Shawnigan on Thursday night, followed by IHA at 7 p.m. Moose Jaw time Friday and Okanagan at 10 a.m. on Saturday.
The top two teams from each pool advance to the playoff round, with the semifinal at 5:30 p.m. on Saturday. The gold medal game takes place on Monday at 4:30 p.m.
