The losing skid hits three for the Prince George Cougars as they fall 4-2 on home ice to the Tri-City Americans.
The Americans jumped out to a 3-0 lead with a pair of quick goals in the first and an early second period marker, two of those goals coming on the Tri-City powerplay.
“We got behind because of penalties, they scored on their powerplay, otherwise I really liked our game,” said Cougars Head Coach and GM Mark Lamb on the post-game show on 94.3 the Goat.
“Five-on-five, our powerplay, 60 minutes, the effort, it was all there.”
Cougars Captain Corbin Vaughan dropped the gloves with Grady Martin late in the first period, sparking his team and bringing the 5,175 fans at the CN Centre into the game.
Captain Corbin doing Captain Corbin things 🫡
@CarlsJrCA https://t.co/BoR5ol4krX
— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) October 24, 2026
The Cougars built on that momentum, and Ethan Popowich found the back of the net for the first time in his young WHL career 8:46 into the second, putting the Cats on the board and making it 3-1.
The first in @TheWHL for Ethan Popowich!
@CarlsJrCA https://t.co/pKKeckummx
— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) October 24, 2026
“That’s what it’s all about, playing, you want to play that first game, you want to score a goal, and then you want to be part of a good team,” Lamb. “They’re some exciting things.”
Popowich, along with forward Jonathan Bitonti, earned their spots on the Cougars after being invited to camp.
“They have the right attitude and they’re really good hockey players,” Lamb said. “They’ve sat and watched, our schedule was our schedule, they’ve worked hard everyday, and now that hard work, watching some games and seeing how the game’s played, now they get in there, and they get an opportunity and they take advantage of it.”
Another player who shined for the Cougars in the loss was Cole Hajt. Hajt had a spirited bout with Carter Bylycia in the second period, and then scored a nice powerplay marker 3:15 into the third to make it 3-2.
Oh they were THROWING hands
@CarlsJrCA https://t.co/b80AYZXlav
— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) October 24, 2026
“He’s a young guy, played 40 games last year, you expect more of him, he wasn’t working the way he wanted at the start, and now he’s getting a better opportunity,” Lamb said. “He’s out there on that second powerplay and now you have to take advantage of it. He’s put a lot of hard work in the last month on the ice and in practice, and once again, that’s what happens. Surprise, surprise, you work hard at your game and you get better.”
🚨 COLE HAJT KNEE DROPPER ALERT! COLE HAJT KNEE DROPPER ALERT! 🚨
@CarlsJrCA https://t.co/F5QAGhMEUk
— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) October 24, 2026
With Peyton Shore on the bench the Cougars pushed for a late equalizer, but Jaxen Adams stole the puck on a weak dump-in attempt and fired a long shot into the empty net.
The box score is here.
The Cougars (3-6-0-1) are 12th in the WHL’s Western Conference.
The WHL standings are here.
Community Heroes Weekend rolls on Saturday night at the CN Centre, including the first Mega 50/50 draw of the season with a guaranteed jackpot of $50,000.
The Cougars full schedule is here.
Something going on in the Prince George area you think people should know about?
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