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WHL Prince George Cougars

Blazers Edge Cougars In Season Finale

March 18, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Prince George Cougars News Release


Prince George Cougars leave the ice in 2018
Prince George Cougars leave the ice in 2018
(Prince George Cougars)

PRINCE GEORGE, BC - Brogan O'Brien and the Prince George Cougars had a flare for the dramatic in their season finale. O'Brien scored twice, including forcing overtime but the Kamloops Blazers prevailed 6-5 in Shootout Saturday night.

O'Brien, along with fellow 20-year-olds Aaron Boyd and Jared Bethune had one final send off in front of a crowd of over 5,100 at the CN Centre on Fan Appreciation Night.

Reid Perepeluk, Connor Bowie and Cam MacPhee also scored for the Cougars, who split the weekend series with the Blazers. Taylor Gauthier stopped 31 of 36 shots through regulation and overtime.

It was a back-and-forth affair, with five lead changes and the two teams combined for 10 goals through 60-minutes.

Prince George scored the only goal in the first period, as it was the hometown kid, Brogan O'Brien pouncing on a rebound during a Cougars' power-play. Jared Bethune fired a shot from the left-wing that was stopped by Max Palaga, but the Blazers' goaltender kicked out the rebound to O'Brien, who fired into a gaping net at 6:10.

After just one goal was scored in the first, the two teams combined for eight in the middle frame.

Kamloops tied it then went ahead early in the second period, as they scored two goals in just 65-seconds. First, Brodi Stuart made it 1-1 3:37 in, spinning and firing the puck past Gauthier on the short side from the right-wing. Then, Devan Harrison made it 2-1 for the Blazers at 4:42, whacking in the puck after it bounced off of Gauthier's glove and dribbled across the crease.

Prince George then stormed back, as Reid Perepeluk and Connor Bowie scored four-minutes apart. First, Perepeluk scored to tie it 2-2 at 6:31, roofing the puck over a sprawled out Palaga. Then, Bowie put the Cougars ahead 3-2 at 10:38, as he picked up the rebound in front and went upstairs on Palaga. Both Perepeluk and Bowie scoring their second career goals to put the Cougars ahead midway through the second. The jubilation was short lived, as the Blazers answered right away.

Just over a minute after Bowie scored, the Blazers came back and tied it. Connor Zary, who had four goals in eight games against the Cougars heading into the game, scored his first of two at 11:39 to make it 3-3. Kamloops would go on to score two more, as they went ahead 5-3 in the back half of the second period.

Luc Smith put Kamloops ahead for the second time in the period, dragging the puck into the face-off circle, before firing it over Gauthier's glove at 15:31 to make it 4-3. Then, on the power-play, it was Zary striking again, tipping in Nolan Kneen's point-shot with just 27-seconds left in the period.

However, the Cougars had a buzzer beater of their own in the second, as Cam MacPhee scored from the blue-line with just four-seconds left, to cut the Blazers lead to 5-4. Bethune dropped the puck back to MacPhee, who's shot from the left-wing found its way past Palaga; his first goal as a Cougar.

Prince George made a push in the third period and that pressure finally paid off with just over seven-minutes left. Brogan O'Brien picked up his second of the game and again it was capitalizing on a rebound in tight. Palaga stopped the first shot but O'Brien was there on the blocker-side to jam it in at 12:56; his 17th and final goal as a Cougar.

The Cougars outshot the Blazers 13-9 in the third period and their pressure forced overtime.

Overtime was dominated by the Cougars, as all three of their 20-year-olds had golden opportunities to win it. O'Brien had one of the best chances on a two-on-oh with Bethune. The two skated in on goal but it was Palaga sliding across to deny O'Brien with a pad stop. Bethune had a great chance to end it right at the top of the crease, but couldn't get the puck over Palaga, who snared the puck with his glove. Aaron Boyd also came close, but just couldn't track down the rolling puck in the crease. Prince George outshot the Blazers 4-1 in OT.

Kamloops made quick work of the shootout, as they scored on their first two shots, putting pressure on Cougars. Bethune had to score in the second-round to but fired his shot off the base of the post.

FINAL SCORE: 6-5 Blazers

Shots: 36-34 Blazers

Power-Plays: Cougars 1-3 Blazers 1-5

Three Stars: 1) Brogan O'Brien 2) Jared Bethune 3) Aaron Boyd

The Cougars finish the 2017-18 season with a 24-38-5-5 record, finishing fifth in the BC Division; they were 4-5-1-1 against the Blazers. Brogan O'Brien finished with a pair of goals and three points in his final game as a Cougar; Jared Bethune had two assists.

The Cougars wrap up the 2017-18 season on Sunday, in their Third Annual Awards Banquet & Brunch at the Prince George Civic Centre; doors open at 11 am. Those interested in tickets, email Brittany.Doncaster@pgcougars.com.

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Prince George Cougars leave the ice in 2018
Prince George Cougars leave the ice in 2018
   



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