The Cougars coaching staff couldn't avoid the numbers, and threw overage goaltender Scott Bowles between the pipes in game four and it paid off.
Bowles led the Cougars to an overtime win avoiding playoffs elimination before another solid sellout crowd last night at the CN Centre.
Bowles has had more success over his career against the Giants than Real Cyr so statistically making in the change in goal made sense.
It's a no-brainer who will start in game 5 back in Vancouver!
Obviously the only way for the Cougars to win this series is to force it to a seventh game.
When was the last time a Western final went 7 games?
It was the 2004 playoffs where the Everett Silvertips beat the Kelowna Rockets in 7 games. Did I mention that the Rockets had a 3-1 series lead - much like the Giants do - only to see the Tips roar back with 3 straight wins to capture the series?
Being down 3 games to 1 is grim, but it's not impossible.
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Drew Schoneck deserves a different title next season.
It should read 'Head Coach of the Prince George Cougars'.
Whatever happens in the Western Conference final, Schoneck should have 'associate' taken off his title next season.
Schoneck was brought into a pretty tough situation after Mike Vandekamp was relieved of his duties just prior to the start of the campaign and managed pretty well under the associate coach role.
He kept his head above water despite what I'd call uncomfortable circumstances that saw GM Dallas Thompson breathing down his neck on the bench through a good portion of the season. I doubt if Schoneck would admit it but having Thompson there must have made him feel he was incompetent. It often looked like management thought he needed to be babysat to guide the Cougars in the proper direction.
I think Schoneck deserves a chance to carry the torch next season.
Sure their may be more high profile candidates out there with a bigger resume, but the Cougars players appear to play for the likable coach.
Getting the Cougars to the West final is no small feat, and Schoneck deserves a pat on the back with a one year contract extension in his back pocket.
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Peter Anholt's time is up in Prince Albert.
The Raiders head coach won't have his contract renewed when it expires at the end of May.
Should we be surprised?
I don't think so.
The Raiders just squeezed into the playoffs this season and missed it entirely a year ago.
The reason why Anholt's departure interests hockey fans in the Okanagan is because Anholt coached the Kelowna Rockets for two seasons (96-97 and 97-98) before landing on his feet as an assistant coach in Red Deer the following season.
You would think several WHL assistant coaches will be chomping at the bit to have a chat with Raiders GM Donn Clark on the vacant job.
What other WHL coach finds himself in a similar situation as Anholt? Is Mike Williamson safe in Portland?
Maybe blog buddy Andy Kemper can pipe in on that hot topic.
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I spoke to Jeff Truitt on his time at the World Under 18 Championships in Finland. The Kelowna Rockets head coach says it was a joy working with Trent Yawney.
Yawney has NHL experience most recently as the head skipper of the Chicago Black Hawks but appeared to have an open ear for suggestions from Truitt and his coaching staff.
The worst thing a coach can do is take total command and have his assistant's do nothing more than push pucks in practice.
Truitt's international resume is becoming a long one yet he isn't about to consider joining Team Canada anytime soon for another trip overseas.
Being a member of the coaching staff at the Under 18's this fall and the World Juniors at Christmas time is a possibility but for the moment Truitt wants to enjoy the off season and some time with his wife and two young children.
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Kelowna Rockets listed player Brock Trotter had a great season with the University of Denver.Trotter, who turned 20 in January led the U of D in scoring this season with 40 points after spending last year on the shelf with a severed right Achilles tendon.
He was cut in the back of the leg after hitting a North Dakota defenseman in a race for a lose puck in the corner.
The Brandon, Manitoba resident is a small forward standing 5'10 and weighing 170 pounds.
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Alex Edler saw limited playing time in the Canucks 5-1 loss in Anaheim last night.
The former Rockets d-man had 8:44 of ice time.
What's amazing is 'Eddie' could have played with the Rockets as a 20 year-old this season.
Ducks forward Travis Moen (a former Rocket) had over 15 minutes of ice time in the win.
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