Howse hopes for hometown heroics

by Marc Weber - The Province

October 26, 2007

Playing against the Prince George Cougars makes Ryan Howse feel at home.

Not only is the 16-year-old Chilliwack Bruins talent -- who returns from injury this weekend to face Cougars on the road -- a Prince George native, he's also scored his only two career WHL goals against his hometown hockey team.

Howse tallied against the Cougars in Prince George last November when he was a 15-year-old call-up.

Before he was knocked out of the lineup with a shoulder separation, the left-winger's lone goal in seven games this season came against the Cougars at Prospera Centre.

What better way, then, to return to the lineup?

"It's probably one of the best situations to come back to," said Howse. "Coming off an injury and getting to play in your hometown.

"It's kind of funny how my goals have been against Prince George, so hopefully that carries on this weekend."

There are expectations that Howse, the third overall pick in the 2006 bantam draft, will produce offensively, although the Bruins haven't missed his scoring ability so far.

Chilliwack (9-3-1-0) comes into the Friday-Saturday road series two points back of Vancouver (9-2-1-2) for top spot in the B.C. Division and fifth in the WHL in goals per game with 3.46. The struggles of the Cougars (5-8-0-0) include a 6-4 loss to the Bruins on Sept. 29.

Still, Howse hopes to get on track and feels that his time in the press box gave him a new perspective on patience that will come in handy.

"I think sometimes you have more time and space than you think you do, and you can create a lot more chances if you just think about what you want to do with the puck," he said.

"That's the one thing that popped out at me."

Give Howse time, said head coach Jim Hiller, and you'll see will see what an exceptional player he is.

"He's a great young player and his offensive skill is right up there," Hiller said, "but it's not surprising with a young guy that it's taken a little time to adapt to life in the Western Hockey League.

"In the last couple of weeks, I've noticed a real change in him and he's just starting to get real comfortable in his surroundings here."

Howse skated in practice this week with right-winger Mike Proudley and centreman Matt Meropoulis, who recently returned from a broken hand. Proudley is coming off his best game as a Bruin, scoring twice and adding a helper in a 4-3 road win over Portland, and that practice combination will be together to start this weekend.

"We've only had this week in practice together, but we've been clicking pretty well," said Howse. "It should be a great line to play with. We all just want to work hard and smart, and hopefully get a few goals."