
Cats Clinch Home Ice with 7-1 Win over Royals
March 18, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Prince George Cougars News Release
PRINCE GEORGE BC - The Prince George Cougars continued their winning ways against the Victoria Royals with a 7-1 victory on Friday at the CN Centre. The Cats have clinched home ice for the opening round of the WHL Playoffs.
Riley Heidt, Chase Wheatcroft, and Hudson Thornton all had three-point nights, and Tyler Brennan got the win in goal, making 20 saves on 21 Victoria shots.
Zac Funk started the scoring at 4:08 of the opening period jamming on by Braden Holt, to make it 1-0. Just passed the midway mark of the period, on a Cougar power-play, Koehn Ziemmer hammered a one-timer by Holt to make it 2-0 at 11:54. The Royals got one back with Matthew Hodson throwing the puck off a Cougar skate and in to make it 2-1 at 16:13. The Cougars led by a goal after one.
In the final 40 minutes, it was all Prince George. Chase Wheatcroft, Cayden Glover, Hudson Thornton, Arjun Bawa, and Riley Heidt all scored for Prince George to put this one with out of reach for Victoria. In the final 40 minutes, the Cougars outshot the Royals 28-12.
GAME NOTES
-The Cougars clinch 4th place in the Western Conference and will be hosting the 1st round of the WHL playoffs
-Hudson Thornton ties Dustin Byfuglien's record for goals in a single season by a Cougars defenceman
- Tyler Brennan is 15-2-1 in his last 18 starts
-Tonight's game had a combined 120 penalty minutes
GAME SUMMARY
Scoring
Cougars: Funk, Ziemmer, Wheatcroft, Glover, Thornton, Bawa, Heidt
Royals: Hodson
Goaltending
Cougars: Tyler Brennan (W) 60:00 (1 GA, 20 Saves)
Royals: Braden Holt (L) 60:00 (7 GA, 31 Saves)
Shots
Cougars: 38
Royals: 21
Three Stars:
PG: Riley Heidt (1G 2A)
2.PG: Hudson Thornton (1G 2A)
3.PG: Cayden Glover (1G)
Next Game: Saturday March 18th against the Victoria Royals at the CN Centre at 6:00.
Western Hockey League Stories from March 18, 2023
- Broncos Down Rebels 3-1 in Hard-Hitting Game - Swift Current Broncos
- Ams Dominate in 8-2 Victory Over Chiefs - Tri-City Americans
- Warriors Battle Hard, But Fall to Pats on Saturday - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Hitmen Blank Tigers 2-0 - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Giants Split Home-and-Home with Everett - Vancouver Giants
- ICE Top Prince Albert, 4-1 - Winnipeg Ice
- Hawks Fight Back But Fall Late on Saturday - Portland Winterhawks
- Chiefs Drop Second in a Row to Rival Americans Saturday - Spokane Chiefs
- Pats Punch Ticket To Playoffs With 7-3 Win Over Warriors - Regina Pats
- Blades Play Spoiler At Home Against The Wheat Kings - Saskatoon Blades
- Oil Kings Fall to 'Canes - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Hawks' Comeback Bid Comes Up Short - Portland Winterhawks
- Hitmen Blank Tigers, 2-0 - Calgary Hitmen
- Wheat Kings Lose 4th Straight; Comeback Falls Short Again - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Raiders Fall 4-1 in Winnipeg - Prince Albert Raiders
- Thomas Mortlock 1938-2023 - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Chiefs Seek Revenge over Rival Americans Saturday Night - Spokane Chiefs
- Ams Host Chiefs at the Toyota Center, Wrapping up Home-And-Home Set - Tri-City Americans
- Chase Wheatcroft Signs Entry Level Contract with Dallas Stars - Prince George Cougars
- Game Day Preview March 18 vs Calgary - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Gameday: Blades vs Wheat Kings at 7:00pm CST - Saskatoon Blades
- Pats Head to Moose Jaw for Rebound Performance - Regina Pats
- Cats Clinch Home Ice with 7-1 Win over Royals - Prince George Cougars
- GAME HUB: Wheat Kings Face Blades in Must Win Game - Brandon Wheat Kings
- Game Day Hub: March 18 vs Seattle - Portland Winterhawks
- Americans Earn 3-1 Victory in Spokane - Tri-City Americans
- T-Birds Approach the Record Book - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Power Play Comes up Short, Chiefs Fall 3-1 in St. Paddy's Battle - Spokane Chiefs
- Broncos Blanked by Rebels 2-0 - Swift Current Broncos
- Krebs' Hat-Trick Third Period Helps Drive Tigers 7-2 Win in Edmonton - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Warriors Score Six Straight, Roll Over Regina On Friday - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Giants Shut Out Silvertips Friday Night At Home - Vancouver Giants
- Royals Open Weekend with Loss to Cougars - Victoria Royals
- Giants Catch Luck of the Irish, Down Tips 3-0 in Langley - Everett Silvertips
- Birds Top Hawks 5-2, Rematch in Portland Tomorrow - Portland Winterhawks
- Rockets Downed by Blazers - Kelowna Rockets
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