Cougars Complete Perfect Weekend with 5–1 Win Over Giants
Photo: Rob Wilton
LANGLEY, BC – It was a perfect weekend for the Prince George Cougars. The Cats earned six of a possible six points, completing a three-games-in-three-nights sweep with a dominant 5–1 victory over the Vancouver Giants on Sunday at the Langley Events Centre.
Carson Carels, Jett Lajoie, Riley Ashe, Arsenii Anisimov, and Dmitri Yakutsenak all found the back of the net for the Cougars, while Josh Ravensbergen was stellar between the pipes, stopping 31 of 32 shots.
Vancouver came out with energy in the opening five minutes, but Prince George weathered the early push and controlled the remainder of the first period. Carels opened the scoring at 18:48 with a wraparound goal, extending his point streak to eight games and giving the Cougars a 1–0 lead after 20 minutes. Prince George outshot the Giants 20–10 in the opening frame.
The Cougars continued to dictate play in the second period. Lajoie made it 2–0 at 8:33 with a breakaway goal, and Ashe added to the lead at 12:50, finishing off a beautiful pass from Townes Kozicky. Prince George wasn’t done, as Anisimov’s seeing-eye shot changed direction and floated past goaltender Burke Hood, giving the Cougars a commanding 4–0 lead through 40 minutes.
In the third period, the Giants spoiled Ravensbergen’s shutout bid when Brett Olson scored at 15:55. The Cougars responded quickly, however, as Yakutsenak sealed the win with an empty-net goal at 17:21 to secure the 5–1 victory.
With the win, Prince George extends its winning streak to three games. The Cougars now return home to host the Vancouver Giants on Friday, January 23, and Saturday, January 24, at the CN Centre
Post-Game Interview with Assistant Coach Carter Rigby
