Connor Bowie picked a good time to be an accurate marksman.
The 18-year-old from Fort St. John collected two goals including the game-winner for the Prince George Cougars in a thrilling 4-3 victory over the Kamloops Blazers on Friday in front of 2,213 fans at CN Centre.
Bowie picked the corner twice on opposite sides of the net on Rayce Ramsay who allowed three goals on nine shots and Dylan Garand who he handcuffed 9:22 into the third period.
“Both were on my forehand side and he (Ramsay) cheated a little bit on the first one and then Garand cheated on the second one so I beat him on the short side. They have two pretty good goaltenders in this league but I was lucky enough to get two on them tonight.”
.@CBowie09 scores two goals including the game winner for @PGCougars as they skate to 4-3 victory against @blazerhockey at @CNCentre in @TheWHL action on Friday #CityofPG #sports #BlazerNation #NorthernUprising pic.twitter.com/kN9cIPPdE8
— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) November 23, 2019
Prince George came out guns a-blazing in the opening period scoring two goals 33 seconds apart.
Josh Maser drew first blood for the Cats ending an 0-for-15 slump on the power-play giving the hosts an early 1-0 lead.
.@joshmaser88 of @PGCougars talks about 4-3 win over @blazerhockey at @CNCentre on Friday in @TheWHL action with @mypgnow #CityofPG #sports #BlazerNation #NorthernUprising pic.twitter.com/vLfAyTPqPa
— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) November 23, 2019
After going up a pair, the Blazers top line of Orrin Centazzo, Connor Zary and Zane Franklin went to work and drew Kamloops back on even terms with Centazzo and Franklin scoring their 13th and 14th goals of the season past Taylor Gauthier.
The offensive fireworks didn’t end there as Rhett Rhinehart potted his second of the season from Jack Sander and Ilijah Colina giving the Cougars a 3-2 lead after 20 minutes.
Franklin netted his second of the game on a goal-mouth scramble that survived video review in the middle frame.
After going down by one, the Blazers had a golden opportunity to retake control of the game in the third period on a four-minute high-sticking minor from Maser but were unable to capitalize on the chance.
“That’s on us. That’s on the two power-play units in a crucial part of the game, that was a great opportunity to get a goal and we just didn’t do it. Credit to them they stayed tough by playing some good defence but it’s on us for not getting that goal,” said Franklin.
.@zaner19 chats with @mypgnow after @blazerhockey drops 4-3 decision to @PGCougars at @CNCentre in @TheWHL on Friday #CityofPG #sports #BlazerNation pic.twitter.com/cNZ2f089p2
— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) November 23, 2019
After scoring three goals in the first period, Prince George only recorded nine shots in the final 40 minutes, compared to the Blazers 29.
Kamloops Head Coach Shaun Clouston wasn’t to bothered by the outcome.
“We played well, we put up 44 shots and I thought there was a couple of good chances to tie it up and I thought we showed resilience after being down in the third. If there was one difference maybe it was the power-play where they did get one and we didn’t so if you flip that, it goes the other way around.”
“I have to give our opponents credit they played really well and the goaltender was outstanding.”
.@blazerhockey Head Coach Shaun Clouston discusses tough 4-3 loss to @PGCougars with @mypgnow on Friday @CNCentre in @TheWHL action #CityofPG #sports #BlazerNation pic.twitter.com/TspVmPXE08
— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) November 23, 2019
The win by the Cougars snapped a trio of streaks.
It ended Prince George’s seven-game losing skid at home along with an eight-game slide overall.
In addition, the Blazers 11-game winning streak at CN Centre is also a distant memory.
Kamloops (15-8-0-0) outshot Prince George (5-16-0-2) 44-18 overall, making Gauthier the first star.
Both teams play the second half of the doubleheader tonight at 7:00 from CN Centre.
REG 6 SC 0
CGY 4 BDN 3 (OT)
PA 5 LET 3
MJ 1 MH 3
KAM 3 PG 4
WPG 3 TC 2 (OT)
EDM 3 VIC 5
KEL 3 SEA 2
SAS 1 EVT 6— The WHL (@TheWHL) November 23, 2019