By Ethan Ready

Cats snap losing streak

Cougars double-up on Royals in Teddy & Toque Toss Game

Dec 15, 2019 | 8:25 AM

PRINCE GEORGE – Eighty-eight seconds. That’s all it took for the Prince George Cougars to trigger their annual Teddy & Toque Toss, in their 4-2 win over the Victoria Royals at the CN Centre Saturday.

The win tonight ended the Cougars’ six-game winless run, as they earned their first win since November 23^rd.

Ilijah Colina is Mr. Teddy Bear in 2019, as he scored the Cougars’ first goal just 1:28 into the first period before 3,395 fans. It was a big night for the 19-year-old who was named the game’s first star, after scoring his second of the game in the third period which turned out to be the game-winner. Nikita Krivokrasov scored in the second period and Connor Bowie added an empty-net goal inside the final minute of regulation.

What a night, what a weekend for Taylor Gauthier. The Cougar’s goaltender picked up the win, stopping 32 of 34 shots and was credited with two assists, including helping set up the Teddy & Toque Toss goal. Gauthier also had an assist on Friday night. He was named the game’s third star Saturday.

Saturday’s win was long overdue for Prince George, who snapped a 10-game losing streak against the Royals. Saturday was their first win against Victoria since December 2^nd, 2018 which was the Cougars’ Teddy & Toque Toss a season ago.

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Carson Miller and Gary Haden scored for the Royals, who had their two-game win streak halted. Shane Farkas was tagged with the loss, stopping 20 of 23 shots.

Colina triggered the avalanche of fur after his shot, the Cougars’ first shot of the game, got past the stick side of Farkas from the right-wing. His game-winner in the third period ended up in a similar spot too.

Tied 2-2 early in the third period, Tyson Upper fired a pass out of the corner to the trailing Colina in the slot and he wired a wrist shot past the stick of Farkas at 6:17. His first multi-goal game since February 28^th, 2018.

The Cougars led 1-0 after the first 20-minutes but the Royals countered with two goals in a five-minute stretch in the middle frame to grab a 2-1 lead. However, that lead lasted all of half a minute for the visitors.

Krivokrasov tied the game on the next shift after the Royals second goal. Bowie set up Krivokrasov in front of the net and he scored his fourth just 31-seconds after Victoria went ahead 2-1.

The Cougars (7-20-1-3) wrap up their pre-Christmas schedule on Tuesday in Langley against the Vancouver Giants. The Cougars return to action after the Christmas break on December 27^th in Everett.