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| #19 Logan Nelson faces off against PG's Greg Fraser |
STANDINGS: Victoria is in the 8th and final playoff spot in the West, 1 up on Everett and 2 points up on Prince George who have 2 in hand.
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| Tim Traber |
SEASON SERIES: Victoria leads the 8 game season series 3 to 1, their last encounter Feb 1st a 5-1 home ice victory. After Saturday nights contest, they’ll meet twice more in Prince George Feb 24th and 25th.
Prince George 1 @ Victoria 5 (Feb 1 2012)
Prince George 4 @ Victoria 2 (Jan 31 2012)
Victoria 6 @ Prince George 5 (Oct 1 2011)
Victoria 5 @ Prince George 4 (Sep 30 2011) SO
LAST GAME: The Royals are coming off a 5-3 loss to the Hitmen on Wednesday. Victoria led 2-0 before Calgary clawed back, extending the Royals winless streak to 5 games. Tim Traber had the ‘Gordie Howe Hat-Trick’ as Victoria held Calgary to a season tying low of 21 shots and no power play’s against.
Prince George defeated the visiting Red Deer Rebles 3-1 on Wednesday, wrapping up a 5 game home stand with 2 wins – both coming in their last 3.
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| Royals #5 Keegan Kanzig defends against Htimen Alex Gogolev |
WHO’S HOT: F Jamie Crooks leads the Royals in goals (30) and points (59). He’s riding a 7 game point streak (5g 2a) and has 14 points over his last 10 games. D Hayden Rintoul leads all defenseman in power play goals with 11, is 10th among rearguards in scoring (42) and is on a 6 game point streak (1g 6a).
ISLAND BOYS: The Cougars boast two local players, F Greg Fraser from Nanaimo, and D Cody Carlson from Victoria who is second on the club in scoring with 33 points.
X FACTORS: The Cougars have scored the fewest goals in the league, with the fewest shots for. They have the 22nd ranked power play and have taken the 5th most penalty minutes per game on average.
Victoria’s penalty killing has not allowed a goal against in it’s last 3 games (6 for 6), and held the opposition to under 30 shots per game during that span. D Tyler Stahl returns to the line up after serving a two game suspension.
HOME ICE: Victoria is 5 under .500 at home (10-14-1-2). Prince George is 7 under on the road (10-17-0-1).
WIKI STAT: The Cougars are the only team in Western Hockey League history to draft 2 brothers in the first round of the Western Hockey League Bantam Draft. Jesse Forsberg, a defenceman, was drafted 11th overall by the Cougars in 2008, and his younger brother Alex, a centerman, was taken first overall in 2010.
DRAFTED/NHL SIGNED PLAYERS: For Victoria: D Tyler Stahl (Carolina, 6th rd 2010), and D Jordan Fransoo (Ottawa, 7th rd 2011). For Prince George: D Ricard Blidstrand (7th PHI ’10).
TOP PROSPECTS: Central Scoutings mid-term rankings of North American players positions Victoria’s Steven Hodges (55), and Logan Nelson (108). For PG: Troy Bourke (107).
INJ:
For Prince George:
#2, Dan Gibb, Upper body, day to day
#19, Jordan Tkatch, Upper body, day to day
#21, Shane Pilling, Upper body, day to day
#27, Alex Forsberg, Lower body, day to day
Additions #3, Marc McNulty, from AMHL
For Victoria:
#3, Zach Habscheid, Lower body, 1 month+
#18, Brandon Magee, Lower body, day to day
LEADING SCORERS:
For Prince George:
Bourke (10-30-40)
Carlson (8-25-33)
Forsberg (12-19-31)
Asuchak (15-13-28)
Fraser (13-11-24)
For Victoria:
Crooks (30-29-59)
Nelson (20-32-52)
Soudek (22-27-49)
Rintoul (13-29-42)
Magee (19-22-41)
