The Cougars had an interesting goalie problem for game 1 of the VIJHL season. Fraser Wyatt is injured and Jesse Pye is looking down the barrel of a Junior A season with the Grizzlies. So, they needed someone to back stop the Cougars. That came by way of the Campbell River Storm. Josh Doherty was Storm property and the Cougars wanted him. A deal was made late Wednesday night and finalized Thursday morning. Doherty showed up to the Arch just hours before game time and started for his new team before even meeting most of them.
He was brilliant. He collected 35 saves for the win, including several highlight reel stops. His forwards helped out too. Kieran Strange kept up his preseason scoring trend by potting his first of the year less than 2 minutes into the game, and Cougars newcomer Kobe Sawyer doubled up the score late in the first. Cougars vets Mateo Pivetta and Jacob Pang also scored, Pivetta’s being the GWG.
Two Predators put markers up, Thomas Jenkins and Michael Hoekstra, but it wasn’t enough to catch up to the Cougars, despite a third period onslaught.
The Cougars take on the Islanders on Sunday, 330pm start at the Arch.
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