Cougars snap losing skid with win over Royals
April 27, 2021 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Prince George Cougars News Release
Prince George Cougars centre Kyren Gronick scores vs. the Victoria Royals
(Prince George Cougars, Credit: Allen Douglas)
The Prince George Cougars snapped their four-game winless streak with a 4-1 win over the Victoria Royals, Monday at the Sandman Centre in Kamloops.
With the win, the Cougars (5-7-1-1) moved back into third place in the B.C. Division, two points ahead of the idle Kelowna Rockets. The loss extended the Royals (1-12-1-0) losing streak to nine games.
"It's nice to bounce back effort and we play a better team game tonight. The first period we really executed well, as we moved the puck and played with confidence. We got into a little bit of track meet in the second, but we bounced back in the third and tightened up and didn't allow them to get back in it, ¬Â said Associate Coach Jason Smith.
Craig Armstrong, Ethan Browne, Kyren Gronick, and Jonny Hooker all scored in the win. Majid Kaddoura chipped in with a pair of assists. Taylor Gauthier was sharp in net, as he stopped all but one of the 26 shots he faced, as he earned his third win in the RE/MAX Hub.
The Cougars' power-play chipped in with a goal, and it was disciplined effort from Prince George, as they only took on penalty.
Trentyn Crane was the only Royal to beat Gauthier on the night. Royals' goaltender Adam Evanoff was tagged with the loss for Victoria after he stopped 29 of 33 shots.
The new-look line of Browne, Armstrong, and Gronick paid immediate dividends for the Cougars. The three combined for six points (3-3-6) and all three were named game stars.
The Cougars are now 3-0-1-0 against the Royals and the two teams meet again Friday in Kamloops.
GAME SUMMARY
Scoring
Cougars- Kyren Gronick, Ethan Browne (PP), Jonny Hooker, Craig Armstrong
Royals- Trentyn Crane
Goaltending
Cougars- Taylor Gauthier, 60:00, 25 saves, 26 shots
Royals- Adam Evanoff, 60:00, 29 saves, 33 shots
Power-Play
Cougars- 1/5
Royals- 0/1
Shots:
Cougars- 33
Royals- 26
Three Stars: 1) Ethan Browne 2) Craig Armstrong 3) Kyren Gronick
Game Notes: After tonight, there's a three-way tie for the Cougars' scoring lead. Armstrong, Gronick, and Hooker all have a share of the lead as all three have 10 points. Armstrong and Hooker have a share of the goal-scoring lead too with six. Ethan Browne now has six points (2-4-6) in four games against Victoria. It was a milestone win for GM & Head Coach Mark Lamb. The victory was his 250th as a Head Coach in the WHL.
About Hockey Gives Blood
You are six times more likely to need an organ transplant than to become an organ donor. Age doesn't matter ¬" Canada's oldest organ donor was over 90 years old! Learn more about organ donation at blood.ca/HGB
Images from this story
Western Hockey League Stories from April 27, 2021
- Pats Fall to ICE in Season Finale - Regina Pats
- WHL Announces Tri-City Americans Cleared to Resume Team Activities - Tri-City Americans
- Game Day Hub: April 27 - Portland Winterhawks
- Pre Game Report Presented by Imperial Steel - ICE vs Pats - April 27, 2021 - Winnipeg Ice
- WHL Announces Tri-City Americans Cleared to Resume Team Activities - WHL
- Regina Set to Conclude Hub against Winnipeg - Regina Pats
- Cougars snap losing skid with win over Royals - Prince George Cougars
- Looking Back at the 2021 Regular Season in the Hub - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Season Ends with Overtime Loss to Blades - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Rhinehart Nets OT Winner, Blades Beat Raiders 5-4 - Saskatoon Blades
- Royals Bitten by Cougars - Victoria Royals
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.
Other Recent Prince George Cougars Stories
- A Long Time Coming - Riley Ashe Joins Prince George Cougars
- Cougars Sign Jack Finnegan to WHL Scholarship & Development Agreement
- Cougars Sign Cole Hajt to WHL Scholarship & Development Agreement
- Cougars Sign Riley Ashe to WHL Scholarship & Development Agreement
- Cougars Select Nine Players Between WHL Prospects and US Priority Draft
