The Prince George Cougars are headed to the WHL Postseason, thanks to a big night from Matteo Danis.
The Cougars forward led the way with a hat-trick in the Cougars’ 5-2 win over the Kelowna Rockets Wednesday night.
“It couldn’t happen to a better guy, he comes in, he’s a big part of our team, he’s a big part of the dressing room, it’s nice to see anybody score, but to get a hat-trick at home, we didn’t have a lot going for us but he did,” said Cougars Head Coach and GM Mark Lamb on the Post-Game Show on 94.3 the Goat.
Danis’ first on the night came in the second period, putting a wraparound past Jake Pilon.
Christmas in the Danis household must be pretty sweet with wrapping like that@CarlsJrCA https://t.co/aANIJW1gJX pic.twitter.com/cWVO0uSwrJ
— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) February 27, 2025
Danis’ second of the night won’t make the highlight reel, but it may make the blooper reel. While trying to get the puck in front of the net, Danis ricocheted the puck off a Rockets defender’s stick, and it floated over Pilon.
EXACTLY how Matteo drew that one up@CarlsJrCA https://t.co/1Aj5smk95A pic.twitter.com/k6e6YhaHRZ
— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) February 27, 2025
Danis capped off his night by firing the puck into the empty Kelowna net, sending the 3,187 fans at the CN Centre home with a free small pizza from Domino’s.
“Individually, it’s been a roller coaster, but that’s like every season, there’s ups and downs and that’s where you find yourself and find what you’re doing when you’re playing good hockey and what you’re doing when you’re playing bad hockey,” Danis said on the Post-Game Show on 94.3 the Goat.
“I feel like towards the end of the year now I’ve been able to find the back of the net more and play more confident, play more loose, and I think that’s kind of been the key.”
Despite the win, Lamb said it was far from the Cougars’ best effort.
“We’re mentally, physically, we’re fatigued, we didn’t have a lot going besides our goalie tonight,” Lamb said.
“We got the W, but I don’t even think that’s close to being our team, and then you look for reasons, and it’s fatigue.”
Josh Ravensbergen had another stellar performance, which started with the WHL’s Save of the Night in the first minute.
HOLY MACKEREL, RAVENSBERGEN@PGCougars | #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/qMu4fd90fF
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) February 27, 2025
Ravensbergen made 23 saves on the night.
Danis’ second wasn’t the only strange Cougars goal on the night. Viliam Kmec openedthe scoring with a point shot that hit a Rocket player’s stick, and flew past Pilon.
We have a correction to make, this one belongs to Villy! https://t.co/12QhAwfQGY
— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) February 27, 2025
Borya Valis scored the Cougars’ second of the night, powering his way to the net with a solo effort.
Just Borya Valis doing Borya Valis things 🤷‍♂️@CarlsJrCA https://t.co/C950nLwzxc pic.twitter.com/6tUUKIui4s
— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) February 27, 2025
Will Sharpe and Jacob Henderson scored the two Kelowna goals.
The box score is here.
The Cougars (33-19-4-2) are second in the BC Division, five points behind the Victoria Royals (34-15-3-6).
The Cougars and Royals play two more times this season.
The WHL standings are here.
The Cougars host the Kamloops Blazers on Friday for Cougars Fight Cancer night.
The full Cougars schedule is here.
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