Four Williams Lake minor hockey products played a significant role in helping the Cariboo Cougars claim the prestigious Mac’s AAA Midget Hockey Tournament championship.
Goaltender Griffen Outhouse, forwards Chase DuBois and Colton Thomas and defenceman Kolten Carpenter, helped the Cougars defeat the Regina Pat Canadians, 2-1, during a nationally televised double overtime thriller on Jan. 1 at the ScotiaBank Saddledome in Calgary.
On the strength of a 40-save performance in the final Outhouse was named the tournament’s top goaltender, while DuBois potted the winning goal just seconds into the second overtime frame.
The Cougars opened the scoring early in the first period when Wesley Shipton stole the puck deep in Regina territory. Shipton buried the puck, bar down on the short side to give the Cougars an early 1-0 lead.
The one-goal advantage was short lived, however, as the Canadians broke in on an odd-man rush, capped off by some pretty passing and a nice finish by Regina’s Owen Sillinger, to knot the game up at 1-1.
Both goaltenders remained solid throughout the remainder of regulation, keeping both teams off the board.
After a furious 10-minute overtime frame that saw the Cougars kill off a two-minute tripping minor to Darren Hards, the B.C. club used the full intermission to rest and regroup.
The break seemed to energize the Northern B.C. boys as early in the second overtime period DuBois fired a shot from a tough angle past a surprised Curtis Megar and into the Regina goal for the game winner.
The victory was the Cougars’ first ever win at the illustrious tournament, which has a history dating back nearly 40 years and has seem some of the brightest National Hockey League stars pass through its ranks.
Their previous best finish was an overtime loss in the quarterfinals.
The Cougars’ beat the Lethbridge Hurricanes, 6-3, the Battleford Stars, 3-1, the Markham Waxers, 5-3, the German Under-17 Nationals, 5-1, and the Calgary Buffaloes, 5-4, before downing the Pat Canadians in the championship.
The Cougars only loss came during the round robin — a 4-2 result at the hands of the Calgary Northstars.
On top of being named the tournament’s top goaltender, Outhouse was also named a first-team all-star for the event.
