The Prince George Cougars are about to lift the curtain on the 2025-26 WHL Season.
It all kicks off with the home opener slated for tomorrow (Friday) night against the Portland Winterhawks at 7pm from CN Centre.
Cougars Director of Business, Taylor Dakers is expecting another healthy crowd to kick off the campaign.
“I don’t think we are going to see sellouts but I think we will have nice attendance. The last few years we have an exciting team going into the season and everyone is kind of increased what we have seen on opening night.”
The Cougars are going to have to fill the offensive void left by dynamic forward Riley Heidt, Koehn Ziemmer and Borya Valis.
Last year’s trade deadline acquisition Ben Riche elected to go the NCAA route a year earlier than expected.
Key returning pieces are defenceman Bauer Dumanski, Carson Carrels, Corbin Vaughan and Arseni Anisimov while up front Aiden Foster, Jett Lajoie, Terik Parascak and Lee Shurgot are expected to drive the bus offensively.
He added opening weekend is good opportunity for young players to prove they can handle a bigger role.
“It’s a big chance for them to show well and a chance for our roster guys, second and third year players to step up and show the improvements that they have made.”
“Opening weekend is always new faces and you have guys away at NHL camps as well. You get to see some players that may not be here in November but could be full time guys next year so its a little sneak peek.”
Some of the new faces will get the opportunity to see include forwards Riley Ashe, Russian import Dimitry Yakutsenak, American Jack Finnegan and recent trade acquisition Brock Souch along with Kooper Gizwoski who was claimed off waivers over the summer.
Second-year forwards Patrick Sopiarz and Kayden Lemire are primed to take a step.
Townes Kozicky, Ethan Hamilton and Cole Hajt battle for ice time in their rookie seasons.
PG is led in goal by San Jose Sharks top prospect Josh Ravensbergen who is back for his third season between the pipes.
Backing him up will be 19-year-old import Alexander Levshyn who played Junior A in Ontario last season. Brady Holtvogt is also on the roster.
On the blue line, Phoenix Cahill, Eli Johnson, Leith Hunter, Dermot Johnston and Aleksey Chichkin round out the roster.
The Winterhawks will also play the Cougars Saturday at 6pm.
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