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WHL Prince George Cougars

Cougars Earn Crucial Win over Kamloops

April 16, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Prince George Cougars News Release


Jonny Hooker of the Prince George Cougars scores against the Kamloops Blazers
Jonny Hooker of the Prince George Cougars scores against the Kamloops Blazers
(Prince George Cougars, Credit: Allen Douglas)

KAMLOOPS, BC- The Prince George Cougars (24-38-4-1) have moved one step closer to clinching a berth in the 2022 WHL Playoffs after their 4-2 win over the Kamloops Blazers Friday at the Sandman Centre.

Prince George needs one point from their game Saturday against the Kelowna Rockets to clinch a post-season berth. A win, coupled with a Vancouver Giants loss tomorrow in Kamloops, would clinch sixth place for the Cougars and a matchup with the Portland Winterhawks in the playoffs.

"Without question it was our biggest game of the year and our best game of the year," said Cougars Associate Coach Josh Dixon after Saturday's win. "We're so proud of the effort of all the guys. The character we showed, with being one of the youngest teams in the league, and holding off the Blazers, who threw everything they had at us, in our most important game of the year, I can't say enough about the effort."

Jonny Hooker scored the game-winner at 8:23 of the third period that broke a 2-2 tie. Hooker's 17th of the season came just 26-seconds after the Blazers had stormed back to tie the game.

After a scoreless first period, Riley Heidt and Connor Bowie scored in the second, as the Cougars led 2-0 through 40-minutes. Heidt opened the scoring two and half minutes into the second period, as he took a cross-ice pass from Koehn Ziemmer, then fired the puck over the goalie's glove from the left-wing for his 21st goal of the season. Bowie doubled the Cougars lead after he scored his 15th at 5:11 of the middle frame. Brown forced a turnover in front of the Blazers net, and after a short battle for a loose back in the crease, it was Bowie who popped the put it into an open net.

Caden Brown secured the win with his empty-net goal inside the final half minute.

Ty Young was sensational on Friday, as the Cougars' goaltender was named the first star after making 43 saves. Young frustrated Blazers' shooters all night, as he had a clean sheet through two periods. He was at his best in the third period when he stopped 19 of 21 shots. His best stop in the third period was an eye-popping glove save against Fraser Minten which help preserved 3-2 lead.

Kamloops did score twice in a three-minute span in the third period to erase a 2-0 Cougars lead. The Blazers' Dylan Garand suffered his first loss against Prince George this season, as he surrendered three goals on 29 shots.

NOTES

Prince George snapped a six-game losing streak to Kamloops with their win Friday. They finish the 12-game season series with a 3-7-1-1 record. Ty Young is now 2-1-0-2 in month of April, with a 2.22 goals-against average and .937 save percentage. Riley Heidt had 15 points (8G-7A) in 12 games against Kamloops.

GAME SUMMARY

Scoring

Blazers: Reese Belton, Drew Englot

Cougars: Riley Heidt, Connor Bowie, Jonny Hooker, Caden Brown

Goaltending

Blazers: Dylan Garand (L), 59:18, (3 GA, 26 SVS)

Cougars: Ty Young (W), 60:00, (2GA, 43 SVS)

Power-Play

Blazers: 0/2

Cougars: 0/2

Shots

Blazers: 45

Cougars: 30

Three Stars: 1) Ty Young 2) Drew Englot 3) Koehn Ziemmer

Next Game: Saturday, April 16th at Kelowna Rockets, 7:05 pm

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Images from this story

Jonny Hooker of the Prince George Cougars scores against the Kamloops Blazers
Jonny Hooker of the Prince George Cougars scores against the Kamloops Blazers
(Allen Douglas)		   



Western Hockey League Stories from April 16, 2022


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