
Cougars Look to Continue Winning Ways into Spokane
December 2, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Prince George Cougars News Release
The Prince George Cougars US road swing continues as they visit the Spokane Chiefs tonight at 6:00 pm.
The Prince George Cougars got back in the win column with a 4-1 victory over the Tri City Americans on Friday night at the Toyota Center in Kennewick, WA. Special teams proved to be the difference, with the Cats power-play going a perfect 2/2 and the penalty kill going a perfect 4/4. Zac Funk led the way offensively for the Cougars with his third career hat-trick, while rookie netminder Josh Ravensbergen made 30 saves.
Cougars Record: 19-7-0-0 (1st in Western Conference, 1st in BC Division)
Cougars Last Game: A 4-1 win on December 1st at Tri-City
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Chiefs Record: 10-11-2-0 (8th in Western Conference, 5th in US Division)
Chiefs Last Game: A 2-0 loss to the Saskatoon Blades on November 29th
2023-2024 REGULAR SEASON SERIES
Dec. 2/2023 - at Spokane
Jan. 26/2024 - at Spokane
Mar. 1/2024 - vs Spokane
Mar. 2/2024 - vs Spokane
2022-2023 REGULAR SEASON SERIES
Nov. 4/2022 - at Spokane (7-2 PG)
Nov. 5/2022 - at Spokane (5-3 PG)
Mar. 3/2023 - vs Spokane (5-2 PG)
Mar. 4/2023 - vs Spokane (5-4 SPO/OT)
2023-2024 REGULAR SEASON STATS LEADERS
Goals (26): Zac Funk
Assists (34): Riley Heidt
Points (48): Riley Heidt
PIMS (50): Aiden Foster
Plus/Minus (+20): Terik Parascak
2023-2024 REGULAR SEASON GOALTENDING LEADERS
Wins (10): Ty Young
Save % (.938): Joshua Ravensbergen
Goals Against Average (1.78) - Joshua Ravensbergen
Shutouts (4): Joshua Ravensbergen
COUGARS CAREER MILESTONES WITHIN REACH:
Bauer Dumanski - 149 career games played (1 away from 150)
Viliam Kmec - 148 games played (2 away from 150)
Riley Heidt - 149 career assists (1 away from 150)
Ondrej Becher - 47 career assists (3 away from 50)
Viliam Kmec - 49 career assists (1 away from 50)
Hudson Thornton - 44 career goals (6 away from 50)
WHO'S HOT
Riley Heidt has points in 17 of last 18 games (8-28-35)
Zac Funk has points in 6 consecutive games (10-2-12)
Hudson Thornton has points in 6 consecutive games (1-8-9)
Joshua Ravensbergen has won his last 6 starts
Riley Heidt has multi-point games in 6 of his last 7 games
Terik Parascak has points in 4 of his last 5 games (3-6-9)
26 DOWN: The Cougars enter tonight with a 19-7-0-0 record (38 points) on the season through 26 games which leads the BC Division, Western Conference, and Western Hockey League. The Cats are 11-4-0-0 at home and 8-3-0-0 on the road so far this season.
AGAINST THE WEST: The Cougars enter tonight's contest against the Chiefs with a 12-5-0-0 record against Western Conference opponents and are 4-3 against the US Division.
TOP OF THE TABLE: The Cougars were ranked 1st in the CHL Top 10 - Week 9. This marks the first time the Cougars have been ranked 1st in the CHL rankings since the 2016-2017 season when they captured their first BC Division banner in franchise history.
ALL ABORD THE HEIDT TRAIN: Cougars forward Riley Heidt has dazzled for his team in 2023-2024. Heidt enters tonight with recording at least a point in 22 of the 24 games he has played. On Friday, November 24th against the Lethbridge Hurricanes, the Saskatoon, SK product recorded his 200th career point in the WHL. He is just the ninth Cougar in franchise history to hit that milestone.
THE SUPER ROOKIE: Cougar rookie sensation Terik Parascak has surprised many in 2023-2024. Parascak currently owns 41 points entering tonight's game (22-19-41). Parascak came onto the WHL scene hot this season and was named the league Rookie of the Month for September/October. "It's an honour to win that award," commented Parascak. "It's something that keeps motivating me to get better and hopefully keep producing and most importantly, helping our team win."
ANOTHER SUPER ROOKIE: Cougars' rookie goaltender Joshua Ravensbergen has been stellar this season and was recently named the WHL's Goaltender of the Month for November. The North Vancouver, BC product enters tonight with a 9-2-0-0 record on the season with 1.76 goals against average and a .938 save percentage, with a league-leading four shutouts. Ravensbergen went undrafted in the WHL and signed with the Cats last spring.
ZAC ATTACK: Cougar forward and 20-year-old Zac Funk has had a memorable 26 games to his final junior hockey season. The product of Coldstream, BC owns 43 points (26-21-47). Funk's 26 goals lead the Western Hockey League. Funk was named the WHL's Player of the Month for September/October. At the time of the award being announced, Funk recorded 30 points (14G-16A) in 14 games to start the season atop the WHL scoring charts heading into November. Funk's 14 goals rank third in the WHL, while his 16 assists are good enough to leave him tied for fourth in the League. "It's an honour to be named Player of the Month. This doesn't happen without my teammates," Funk humbly said. "We are gelling right now, and I think that has really helped with everything and hopefully we keep it going."
HOW TO WATCH/LISTEN
WHEN: Saturday, December 2 at 6:00pm PDT
WHERE: Spokane Arena - Spokane, WA
WATCH: WHL Live
LISTEN: 94.3 The Goat
Western Hockey League Stories from December 2, 2023
- Pats Snap Losing-Streak with 6-5 Shootout Win - Regina Pats
- Halaburda Hat-Trick Powers Giants to 6-3 Win - Vancouver Giants
- Rockets Taken Down by Thunderbirds - Kelowna Rockets
- Wild Stun Hawks in Overtime - Portland Winterhawks
- Chiefs' Comeback Falls Short as High-Powered Cougars Win 6-3 on Teddy Bear Toss Night - Spokane Chiefs
- Americans Doubled-up by Giants - Tri-City Americans
- Cougars Earn Second Win on US Trip with 6-3 Win in Spokane - Prince George Cougars
- Lindstrom Makes It Rain in Tigers' Teddy Bear Toss Win oOver Prince Albert - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Silvertips Close Out Road Trip with 3-2 Shootout Loss in Red Deer - Everett Silvertips
- Wild Stun Hawks in OT - Portland Winterhawks
- Kykkanen, Rockets Shut out Giants - Kelowna Rockets
- Preview: Americans vs Giants - December 2 - Tri-City Americans
- Preview: Chiefs Host Cougars in Annual Teddy Bear Toss Game Saturday Night - Spokane Chiefs
- Game Day Preview: Game 27 vs Prince Albert - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Cougars Look to Continue Winning Ways into Spokane - Prince George Cougars
- Americans Stuck in a Funk in Loss to Cougars - Tri-City Americans
- Wild Fans Toss Bears, Hats as Wenatchee Trounces Portland Friday, 8-3 - Wenatchee Wild
- Rockets Shut Down Giants - Vancouver Giants
The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.
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