Game Preview: Cougars at Silvertips: 0
January 18, 2025 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Prince George Cougars News Release
EVERETT, WA - Tonight, the Cougars battle the WHL's leading Everett Silvertips at the Angel of the Winds Arena at 6:05 pm. Tonight marks the first game of the season series between the two clubs.
THE LAST GAME: Jan. 17, 2025 - PG 2 at SPO 5
PG Goal Scorers: Parascak, Ziemmer
SPO Goal Scorers: McIsaac, Harrington, Catton, Van Olm, Armstrong
Goalies: PG: Ravensbergen (32/36 - 31:51) - Michaluk (7/8 28:08) SPO: Cowan (22/24 - 60:00)
PG PP: 2/7 PK: 8/10 | Shots: PG: 24 / SPO: 44
3 Stars: 1. Catton, SPO; 2. Van Olm, SPO; 3: Cristall, SPO
Noteworthy: Koehn Ziemmer scored his 115th career goal and is now five goals behind Chase Witala for the all-time record in PG Cougar history.
WHO'S HOT
Riley Heidt has points in 6 of his last 8 (5-7-12) 11 of his last 14 (9-9-18)
Jett Lajoie has points in 4 of his last 5 (1-3-4)
Ben Riche has points in 12 of his last 13 (8-10-18)
Borya Valis has points in 7 of his last 8 (4-6-10) 12 of his last 16 (9-12-21)
Koehn Ziemmer has goals in back to back games
Cooper Michaluk has won 3 of his last four starts
MILESTONE WATCH:
Riley Heidt - 227 career assists (1 9away from record PG & VIC)
Koehn Ziemmer - 115 career goals (6 away from Cougars record)
Borya Valis - 197 career points (3 away from 200)
Viliam Kmec - 91 career assists (9 away from 100)
Van Eger - 90 career games played (10 away from 100)
Josh Ravensbergen - 46 career wins (4 away from 50)
Aleksey Chichkin - 96 career games played (4 away from 100)
Ben Riche - 48 career goals (2 away from 50)
Carson Carels - 44 career games played (6 away from 50)
A LOOK AHEAD:
January 18th - @ Everett Silvertips - 6:05 pm PDT
January 24th - vs Brandon Wheat Kings - 7:00 pm PDT
January 25th - vs Kamloops Blazers - 6:00 pm
January 28th - vs Swift Current Broncos - 7:00 pm
January 31st - vs. Tri-City Americans - 7:00 pm
February 1st - vs. Tri-City Americans - 6:00 pm
February 4th - at Tri City Americans - 7:05 pm
February 7th - at Kelowna Rockets - 7:05 pm
February 8th - at Kamloops Blazers - 6:00 pm
February 14th - vs. Everett Silvertips - 7:00 pm
February 15th - vs. Everett Silvertips: 6:00 pm
February 17th - at Vancouver Giants - 2:00 pm
THE LAST GAME vs EVT: Jan. 7, 2024 - PG 2 at EVT 4
PG Goal Scorers: Funk, Thornton
EVT Goal Scorers: Hemmerling (2), Miettinen, Roest
Goalies: PG: Young (32/35 - 57:59) EVT: Chadwick (20/22 - 60:00)
PG PP: 1/5 PK: 3/3 | Shots: PG: 22 / EVT: 36
3 Stars: 1. Hemmerling, EVT; 2. Miettinen, EVT; 3: Roset, EVT
SEASON SERIES LEFT: 02/14 at PG, 02/15 at PG, 03/08 at EVT
NOTED (Team Stats vs EVT)
The Cougars and Chiefs meet for the 13th time in the last five seasons in their regular season history...Prince George holds just a 2-9-1-0 overall record. The Cougars are 0-6-0-0 in the last six meetings at the Angel of the Winds Arena.
THROUGH 42: The Cougars enter tonight's contest sporting a 24-13-3-2 record (53 points). The Cats have won seven of their last ten games and sport the fourth best winning percentage in the WHL (.631).
NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING: Goaltender Josh Ravensbergen and forwards Jett Lajoie, Aiden Foster, and Ben Riche were each named on NHL Central Scouting's Mid-Season Rankings ahead of the 2025 NHL Draft in Los Angeles this June. In total, 66 WHL'ers were named to the list. Ravensbergen is ranked as the top North-American goaltender. The North Vancouver, BC product sports a 20-6-3-1 record, along with 3.01 goals against average, and a .901 save percentage. Lajoie clocks in as the 70th ranked skater, while Foster is ranked 134th and are currently both owning career high campaigns. For Ben Riche, the 19-year-old slots in at 174. The Bethune, SK product has been terrific this season and is currently riding a 12-game point streak.
THE PRICE IS RICHE: On Wednesday, January 8th, the Prince George Cougars acquired sniper Ben Riche (05) from the Saskatoon Blades in exchange for Hunter Laing, Luke Dumas, a first-round pick in 2026, and a fifth-round pick in 2028. Riche has had a monster season, owning 54 points (23-31-54) in 37 games played before joining PG. In his debut on January 8th against Vancouver, Riche netted his first goal as a Cougar which resulted being the game winning goal.
MAKING MOVES: On Tuesday, January 7th, the Cougars acquired 6'5 defenceman Aleksey Chichkin (05) from the Regina Pats in exchange for a fourth-round pick in 2027. The Vancouver, BC native owns seven points (3-4-7) in 33 games this season.
CATS SOUTH OF THE BORDER: Entering tonight,, the Cougars are 6-5-2-1 against the US Division. Tonight marks the first time they battle Everett this season. PG also has been terrific on the penalty kill south of the border, going 52/61 on the kill (85.2%).
• Discuss this story on the Western Hockey League message board...
Western Hockey League Stories from January 18, 2025
- 'czech Mate': Jecho, Holinka Lead Way For Oil Kings In Win Over Warriors - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Cougars Drop Fourth Straight Game; Fall 4-1 in Everett - Prince George Cougars
- Warriors Shut Out By Oil Kings - Moose Jaw Warriors
- Broncos Trounce Winterhawks - Swift Current Broncos
- Hawks Fall to Broncos in Eastern Swing Finale - Portland Winterhawks
- Game Preview: Cougars at Silvertips: 0 - Prince George Cougars
- Broncos Sign William Morin to WHL Scholarship & Development Agreement - Swift Current Broncos
- Chiefs Host Hurricanes in Annual Military Appreciation Night Presented by Pizza Factory - Spokane Chiefs
- Game Preview: Game 44 vs Calgary Hitmen - Medicine Hat Tigers
- Oil Kings Wrap up Saskatchewan Swing in Moose Jaw - Edmonton Oil Kings
- Broncos Host Winterhawks in First Ever Darby Bowl - Swift Current Broncos
- Game Day Hub: January 18 at Swift Current - Portland Winterhawks
- T-Birds Grab Two Points in Kelowna - Seattle Thunderbirds
- Giants Double up Ams 6-3 on Home Ice - Vancouver Giants
- Lethbridge Seals Game Late as Wild Fall 4-2 to Eastern Conference Contender - Wenatchee Wild
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.
