Editor:

I got tickets from a friend to see the Prince George Cougars play the Tri City Americans on Oct. 31 (Halloween night).

I had not seen a game since last year so I was interested to see what the new coach and team have to offer.

First period, down 1-0. Not bad. Close score. Outplayed a bit by the Americans but were hanging in there.

Second period ends 3-0. Whoops. Wheels fell off the wagon. A couple of pretty tic-tac-toe passing plays that ended in easy goals for the Tri City players.

Unselfish passing and puck movement sure does work well.

Third period. One more goal for the “other” guys on the short side. I’m sure Hudson Stremmel would like to have that one back. To his credit, he made the score more respectable that it could have been. Mr. Stremmel was chosen as the player of the game for the Cougars. Well deserved.

Two minutes to go in the third period, hometown boys are down 4-0 and…you guessed it … a fight. Things are bad enough already but then an unprovoked fight to save face will do the job. NOT! Suck it up and take the loss, but to compound the issue by showing a total lack of class was a disgrace. I was embarrassed to be witness to this part. Does coach Clark condone such behavior? What about Cougars management? If not, why does it still happen?

So, not much has changed. Poor passing, not taking the body, reactive playing (firing the puck without considering options (think), unnecessary penalties …

Maybe I’m expecting too much, but at this stage of these young men’s development, I would expect to witness sound basic hockey skills, a good work ethic and attitudes to match. Again, do these characteristics (or lack of) flow down from the top?

That’s what I saw.

Neil Van Caeseele

Prince George