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WHL Prince George Cougars

Jaxsen Wiebe's Overtime Winner Lifts Cougars over Americans

April 2, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Prince George Cougars News Release


Prince George, BC - Overtime heroics from Jaxsen Wiebe propelled the Prince George Cougars to a Game 2 victory over the Tri-City Americans. The best-of-seven series is now tied at one.

Wiebe and Cole Dubinsky had the Cougar goals, while Tyler Brennan made 17 saves for his first WHL playoff victory.

No one was able to find the back of the net in the opening frame. The Cougars had the greater of the chances, however, were unable to solve Tomas Suchanek. The Cats outshot the Americans 13-6.

In the second, a tip in from Adam Mechura got the scoring started. The tip went off the body of Mechura and over the head of Tyler Brennan and in to make it 1-0 Americans. The Cats were able to find the equalizer with a tip in of their own. A point shot from Viliam Kmec re-directed off Chase Wheatcroft and Cole Dubinsky and by Suchanek to tie the game at one. The Cougars continued to pour it on in the second and out-shot Tri-City 13-4.

In the third, both goaltenders continued to stand tall. The two most notable Cougar chances came in the final minute when short-handed. The Cats had a 2 on 1 chance and then a Blake Eastman breakaway and rifled it off the crossbar in the final 20 seconds. The game remained tied after 60 minutes.

It needed just under 4 and a half minutes into the extra frame for Jaxsen Wiebe to call game. The Cougar 20-year-old took a wrist shot in the high slot area and the puck hit an American defender and by Suchanek to send the 4500 plus at the CN Centre into a frenzy. Wiebe's OT winner gets the series tied going to Kennewick for Game 3 on Tuesday night.

GAME NOTES

-The Cougars win their first playoff game since April 2017

-The Cougars win their first OT home playoff game since April, 25 2007 (Devin Setoguchi vs VAN)

GAME SUMMARY

Scoring

Cougars: Dubinsky, Wiebe

Americans: Mechura

Goaltending

Cougars: Tyler Brennan (W) 64:52 (1 GA, 17 Saves)

Americans: Tomas Suchanek (L) 64:52 (2 GA, 36 Saves)

Shots

Cougars: 38

Americans: 18

Three Stars:

1.PG: Jaxsen Wiebe (GWG)

2.TC: Tomas Suchanek (38 Saves)

3.PG: Tyler Brennan (17 Saves)

Next Game: Tuesday April 4th at the Toyota Centre at 7:05 for Game 3

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