Game Preview: Cougars at Rockets
Published on January 17, 2026 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Prince George Cougars News Release
KELOWNA, BC - The Prince George Cougars will look to collect back-to-back wins as they visit the Memorial Cup host Kelowna Rockets tonight.
When: Saturday, January 17
Puck Drop: 6:05 pm
Cougars Record: 24-16-2-0 (50 Points)
Cougars Last Game: 7-6 OT win over the Kamloops Blazers on Friday, January 16
Western Conference: 3rd
BC Division: 2nd
Prince George Cougars Roster Breakdown (Birth Year):
2005-born players (3) - Dumanski, Gizowski, Seitz
2006-born players (7) - Souch, Ashe, Parascak, Vaughan, Ravensbergen, Levshyn, Sobry
2007-born players (6) - Foster, Yakutsenak, Shurgot, Lajoie, Anisimov, Fisher
2008-born players (7) - Kozicky, Lemire, Finnegan, Cahill, Carels, Johnston, Funk
2009-born players (1) - Hajt
Rockets Record: 21-14-3-2 (47 Points)
Rockets Last Game: 5-2 win over the Calgary Hitmen on Friday, January 16
Western Conference: 5th
BC Division: 3rd
Kelowna Rockets Roster Breakdown (Birth Year):
2005-born players (3) - Smith, Leslie, Halaburda
2006-born players (11) - McInnis, Pankratz, Guest, Corbet, Banini, Pekar, Gojsic, Wetsch, Gerwing, Alcos, Iginla
2007-born players (7) - Paupanekis, Cihar, Poletin, Kam, Kehrig, Kettles, Boettiger
2008-born players (3) - Henderson, Folstrom, Barrett
2009-born players (1) - Hayden
Last Time Out:
-The Cougars snapped a seven game losing streak with a 7-6 OT win over Kamloops at Sandman Centre on Jan. 16
-Jett Lajoie netted a hat-trick which included the OT Winner; Bauer Dumanski, Lee Shurgot, Dmitri Yakutsenak, and Arsenii Anisimov also scored
-Alex Levshyn made 12 saves in relief for his 7th win of the season
-Tyrone Sobry collected his first point as a Cougar
Previous Meetings vs. KEL This Season:
October 8: The Rockets used a late third period come-back to steal a 5-4 win over the Cougars at the CN Centre.
December 2: Dmitri Yakutsenak's multi-point effort helped the Cougars to a 4-2 win shootout win. Josh Ravensbergen made 30 saves in the victory.
The Carson Show
- Since returning from the 2026 World Juniors, draft-eligible defenceman Carson Carels has collected at least a point in the six games he has been back.
- Carels has points in six straight games and points in 11 of his last 12 games
- Carels is ranked as the #3 skater on NHL Central Scouting's Mid-Season Rankings ; That makes him the top NHL draft prospect in the CHL
In Net:
- After Alex Levshyn secured a win in relief last night, the Cougars could either go to him or go back to San Jose Sharks prospect Josh Ravensbergren who only saw just over 26 minutes of action against the Blazers. He could also get a chance to try and bounce back and get his team another vicory.
The Winnipeg Jett
- Jett Lajoie enters tonight four goals in last two games
- Lajoie owns 18 goals which is already a career high
- Lajoie netted a hat-trick in Kamloops last night and owned a plus/minus of +4
On the Other Side:
- The Rockets enter tonight with a 5-4-1-0 record in their last ten games
- Kelowna is 6-6-2-2 on home ice this season
- Up front, Shane Smith paces the Rockets - with 50 points
- The Rockets made several moves ahead of the trade deadline, highlighted by the addition of 2026 World Junior MVP Vojtech Cihar
- Utah Mammoth prospect Tij Iginla enters tonight with points in four straight games
After Tonight:
- The Cats are right back at it tomorrow night when they visit the Vancouver Giants at 4:00 pm at the Langley Events Centre.
Next Game: Sunday, January 18 at Vancouver - 4:00 pm | Victory + | 94.3 The Goat
Next Home Game: Friday, January 23 vs. Vancouver - 7:00 pm | TICKETS
Western Hockey League Stories from January 17, 2026
- Hodnett's Last Second Goal Lifts Oil Kings over Americans - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Tigers Fall to Raiders, 8-5 - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Warriors Complete Comeback for OT Thriller Win over Spokane - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Kuryachenkov Nets Hattrick and OT Winner against Blades - Swift Current Broncos
- Vees Earn OT Win over Hitmen - Penticton Vees
- Carels Completes OT Thriller as Cougars Edge Rockets in Kelowna - Prince George Cougars
- Edmonton Scores Buzzer Beater as Americans Fall to Oil Kings, 5-4 - Tri-City Americans
- Edmonton Scores Buzzer Beater As Americans Fall, 5-4, To Oil Kings - Tri-City Americans
- Royals Strike Early, Hand Pats Tight Loss at Brandt Centre - Regina Pats
- Game Preview: Vees vs Hitmen - Penticton Vees
- Oil Kings Re-Assign Schollar - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Game Preview: Game 43 VS Raiders - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Vees Win 10th Straight Game - Penticton Vees
- Chiefs Host Warriors in Rare Cross-Conference Match-Up Saturday Night - Spokane Chiefs
- Warriors Looking for Third Win of US Division Road Trip - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Preview: Americans at Oil Kings - January 17, 2026 - Tri-City Americans
- Oil Kings Looking to Bounce Back, Welcome Americans to Rogers Place - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Game Day Hub: January 17 at Seattle - Portland Winterhawks
- Game Preview: Cougars at Rockets - Prince George Cougars
- Wetsch Scores Two Against Former Team as Rockets Beat Hitmen, 5-2 - Kelowna Rockets
- Warriors Edge Thunderbirds for OT Win - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Miller Strikes Twice as Hawks Fall to Wild - Portland Winterhawks
- Vees Win 10th Straight Game - Penticton Vees
- Esler Pitches Shutout, Chiefs Blank Silvertips, 4-0, in Everett - Spokane Chiefs
- Lajoie's Hat-Trick Helps Cougars To 7-6 Win over Blazers - Prince George Cougars
- Tigers Win 19th Straight Game, 7-3, over Oil Kings - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Wild Crank out 9-4 Home Win Friday, Clinch Season Series Against Portland - Wenatchee Wild
- T-Birds Lose in Overtime to Warriors - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Hood Makes 42 Saves as Giants Suffer 4-2 Loss to Penticton - 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.
