Cougars Complete Weekend Sweep of Victoria
October 17, 2021 - Western Hockey League (WHL) - Prince George Cougars News Release
Prince George Cougars centre Justin Almeida vs. the Prince George Cougars
(Prince George Cougars, Credit: James Doyle)
PRINCE GEORGE, BC - The Prince George Cougars swept their weekend doubleheader against the Victoria Royals with a 4-2 win Sunday afternoon at the CN Centre.
Craig Armstrong scored the game-winner early in the third period to break a 2-2 tie, and then he sealed the two points with an empty-net goal inside the final minute. Armstrong finished with three points (2g-1a) on the afternoon. Blake Eastman and Mitch Kohner also scored in the win.
Tyler Brennan was sharp in net, as the 18-year-old turned aside 31 of 33 shots for his first win of the season. Brennan and Saturday's winner, Taylor Gauthier, combined to stop 53 of 56 shots over the two games on the weekend.
Just like Saturday, special teams dominated the storyline Sunday as the Cougars were shorthanded 10 times. The penalty-kill was stellar, as Prince George only surrendered one power-play goal. The Cougars only had three power-plays themselves.
Eastman opened the scoring late in the first period as he scored his first of the season at 14:57. The Cougars carried a 1-0 lead into the middle frame, before the Royals countered with two goals inside the first six-minutes of the period.
Riley Gannon tied the game with a power-play goal just 38-seconds into the second, then Tanner Scott put the Royals ahead 2-1 at 5:42. It stayed that way until Kohner gave his team a shot in the arm.
Kohner tied the game midway through the second frame with a hometown bounce. Kohner made it 2-2 at the 13-minute mark after his pass from behind the net banked in off the Royals' goaltender. Kohner was in on the game-winner in the third period too.
The 19-year-old won a footrace to the puck on the right-wing and found a streaking Armstrong in the slot, who buried stick side for his second of the game, which put the Cougars back ahead 3-2 at 5:45. Armstrong put the game out of reach with an empty-net goal at 19:40.
NEXT GAME: The Cougars (2-3-0-0) head to Vancouver Island to face the Royals (1-6-0-0) on October 22nd and 23rd in a weekend doubleheader. Fans can watch both games on WHL Live or listen on 94.3 The GOAT.
GAME SUMMARY
Scoring
Cougars: Craig Armstrong (2), Blake Eastman, Mitch Kohner
Royals: Riley Gannon, Tanner Scott
Goaltending
Cougars: Tyler Brennan, 31/33, 60:00
Royals: Connor Martin, 18/21, 58:34
Power-Play
Cougars: 0/3
Royals: 1/10
Shots
Cougars: 21
Royals: 33
Three Stars: 1) Mitch Kohner 2) Craig Armstrong 3) Riley Gannon
Images from this story
 Prince George Cougars celebrate a goal against the Victoria Royals (James Doyle) |
 Prince George Cougars centre Justin Almeida vs. the Prince George Cougars (James Doyle) |
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Western Hockey League Stories from October 17, 2021
- GAME SUMMARY: Oil Kings Can't Solve Rebels in Sunday Matinee - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Cougars Complete Weekend Sweep of Victoria - Prince George Cougars
- Cougars Take Weekend Series against Royals - Victoria Royals
- Raiders Acquire Stanley from Oil Kings - Prince Albert Raiders
- Oil Kings Acquire Defenceman Graydon Gotaas from Prince Albert - Edmonton Oil Kings
- T-Birds Blanked in Everett - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Chadwick Earns First Career Victory 4-3 over Warriors - Saskatoon Blades
- Giants Drop a 5-0 Score at Home to Kamloops - Vancouver Giants
- Cougars Get in the Win Column against Victoria - Prince George Cougars
- Raiders Tame Tigers In Shootout - Prince Albert Raiders
- Raiders Trade Pearce to Wheat Kings - Prince Albert Raiders
- Royals Lose First Game of the Weekend against Prince George - Victoria Royals
- ICE Stay Undefeated with Win over Pats - Regina Pats
- Warriors Rally Late, But Fall to Blades on Saturday - Moose Jaw Warriors
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