The Prince George Cougars are back in the win column after a 6-3 Friday victory over the visiting Kelowna Rockets in the first of a doubleheader.
The (2-1) Cougars put the game away with four unanswered goals in the second period.
It was a physical affair with both teams trading big hits throughout the game in front of 2,008 fans at the CN Centre.
Kelowna’s Andrew Cristall opened the scoring nearly 14 minutes into the game on a highlight reel goal with a nifty dangle to get behind Cougars defenceman Keaton Dowhaniuk.
He completed the spectacular play with a backhand that beat Ty Young, who just returned to the Cougars after attending the Vancouver Canucks camp.
Young made 34 saves as Kelowna outshot P.G. 37-24.
There’s a reason why @CraigJButton has Andrew Cristall listed at #22 in his 2023 #NHLDraft rankings.
We are in agreement.@Kelowna_Rockets pic.twitter.com/HHuInOsGbD
— The WHL (@TheWHL) October 1, 2022
The Cougars would answer back with a pair of powerplay goals just 16 seconds apart from Captain Ethan Samson and Hudson Thornton in the first period.
It was Samson’s first game of the season with Prince George after being sent back to junior from the Philadelphia Flyers
Newly-minted captain, Ethan Samson, steps up and delivers for the @PGCougars. @NHLFlyers pic.twitter.com/5ucEFgu2Bz
— The WHL (@TheWHL) October 1, 2022
The Cougars scored another four unanswered goals from Thornton, Fischer O’Brien, Noah Boyko, and Riley Heidt in the second period, to give them a 6-1 lead heading into the third.
Thornton finished with two goals, one assist and was a plus 4 in being named first star.
Hudson Thornton has ✌️. The @PGCougars are up by✌️. pic.twitter.com/wKH7hOknoe
— The WHL (@TheWHL) October 1, 2022
In the final frame, the Cougars looked like a completely different team, mustering just two shots on net while allowing two Kelowna goals.
“We didn’t want to sit back like that, we got a few penalties, four-on-fours, they kind of took the momentum away from us, and it’s something that we can learn from, that third period,” said Cougars Head Coach and GM Mark Lamb on the 94.3 The Goat post-game show.
“We enjoy the wins, but we want to learn all the time, and we want to get better all the time. Any part of the game that we can analyze and look at and show the guys, that’s what we’ll do in that third period.”
Samson ended up with a goal and an assist and aided the power-play that went 2-for5.
“It feels great to be back with all the guys and start it off with a big win,” said Samson, who was just named the Cougars’ 28th captain in franchise history.
Before the game, Lheidli T’enneh Elder Clifford Quaw dropped the puck during a ceremonial faceoff to commemorate the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
Earlier this month, the @PGCougars visited the former site of the Lejac Residential School with Elder Clifford Quaw of the Lheidli T’enneh and Chief Martin Louie of Nadleh Whut’en.#EveryChildMatters pic.twitter.com/koIVuKEPDC
— The WHL (@TheWHL) September 30, 2022
The Cougars and Rockets will play again tonight (Saturday) in Prince George with puck drop at 6:00.
The full box score can be found here.
SCORING
KEL: 1st Period-13:51- Andrew Cristall (3). Unassited
PG: 1st Period-17:01-PP- Ethan Samson (1). Assists: Riley Heidt, Chase Wheatcroft
PG: 1st Period-17:17-PP- Hudson Thornton (1) Assists: Koehn Ziemmer, Ethan Samson
PG: 2nd Period-2:30- Hudson Thornton (2) Assists: Carter MacAdams, Caden Brown
PG: 2nd Period-9:40- Fischer O’Brien (1) Assists: Viliam Kmec
PG: 2nd Period-13:45- Noah Boyko (1) Assists: Fischer O’Brien, Ondrej Becher
PG: 2nd Period-16:57- Riley Heidt (2) Assist: Hudson Thornton
KEL: 3rd Period-2:27-PP- Jake Poole (1) Assists: Noland Flamand, Elias Carmichael
KEL: 3rd Period-14:21- Rilen Kovacevic (1) Assists: Dylan Wightman, Elias Carmichael
GOALTENDING
Cougars: Ty Young (W), 60:00 (3 GA, 34 SVS)
Rockets: Jari Kykkanen (L), 40:00 (6 GA, 18 SVS), Nicholas Cristiano, 20:00 (0 GA, 2 SVS)
SHOTS
Cougars: 24
Rockets: 37
SPECIAL TEAMS
Cougars: 2/5
Rockets: 1/3
THREE STARS
-
- Hudson Thornton (PG) 2G, 1A
- Ethan Samson (PG) 1G, 1A
- Fischer O’Brien (PG) 1G, 1A
That’s a wrap for our Friday night frames! #WHLScores pic.twitter.com/CsuJZb393E
— The WHL (@TheWHL) October 1, 2022