Cougars March to Western Conference Final for First Time Since 2007
PRINCE GEORGE, BC – The Prince George Cougars are off to the Western Conference Final for the first time in 17 years, as they defeated the Kelowna Rockets 6-3, Friday at the CN Centre. Zac Funk and Riley Heidt propelled the Cougar offence, combining for five goals in the win. Jett Lajoie also added a single in the victory. Josh Ravensbergen picked up his 8th win of the playoffs, making 28 saves on 31 Kelowna shots.
GOALS
1st Period
1-0 Cougars at 7:55 – Zac Funk (5) (PP), assisted by Riley Heidt and Zac Funk // On a PG power-play, Riley Heidt spotted 67 goal scorer Zac Funk at the goal line and he powered his way to the goal and put the puck through the legs of Jari Kykkanen to give the Cougars the lead in Game 5.
2nd Period
1-1 Rockets at 4:03 – Andrew Cristall (4), assisted by Tij Iginla // Draft eligible forward Tij Iginla stole a pass from Carlin Dezainde, and Iginla found Andrew Cristall on a clear-cut breakaway and the Washington Capital prospect slid the puck though the legs of Josh Ravensbergen to tie the game.
2-1 Rockets at 4:18 – Tij Iginla (9), assisted by Andrew Cristall and Gabriel Szturc // Shortly after the Cristall marker, Tij Iginla received a pass from Cristall at the right circle and fired a one timer by Ravensbergen to give the Rockets the lead in the blink of an eye.
2-2 Cougars at 9:18 – Jett Lajoie (1), assisted by Chase Pauls and Hudson Thornton // The Cats got the puck up to Chase Pauls who blasted a shot from the blue line and the rebound was banged home by Lajoie who tallied his first WHL playoff goal.
3-2 Cougars at 10:28 – Zac Funk (6), assisted by Viliam Kmec and Ondrej Becher // Slovakian blue-liner Viliam Kmec hit a one-timer from the left point that was redirected in at the side of the goal by Zac Funk who scored his second of the night to re-gain the Prince George lead.
4-2 Cougars at 13:43 – Riley Heidt (2), assisted by Aiden Foster and Keaton Dowhaniuk // Riley Heidt winded his away into the offensive zone, wrapped around the Kelowna goal, and fired a puck through the legs of Kari Kykkanen from the right circle to double the Prince George lead.
5-2 Cougars at 17:44 – Riley Heidt (3), assisted by Carlin Dezainde and Terik Parascak // Carlin Dezainde received a pass in the slot from Heidt that was initially stopped by Kykkanen, however, the puck remained loose and was jammed home by Heidt for his second goal of the night to extend the Prince George lead.
6-2 Cougars at 19:48 – Zac Funk (7) (PP), assisted by Terik Parascak and Riley Heidt // The Cougars headed to a late power-play, and Terik Parascak spotted Zac Funk at the right side of the goal and scored on his own rebound for the hat-trick tally to give PG a 6-2 lead and five unanswered goals in the second period.
3rd Period
6-3 Cougars at 2:51 – Gabriel Szturc (7) – assisted by Ethan Mittlesteadt and Tij Iginla // Gabriel Szturc received a pass from defenceman Ethan Mittlesteadt and the Rocket captain was able to sneak the puck by Josh Ravensbergen from the left circle to cut the Cougar lead in half.
FINAL SCORE:
KEL: 3 PG: 6
FINAL SHOTS:
KEL: 31 PG: 39
POWER-PLAYS:
KEL: 0-2 PG: 2-4
GOALTENDING:
KEL: Jari Kykkanen – 60:00 – 33/39
PG: Joshua Ravensbergen – 60:00 – 28/31
3 STARS:
1.PG: Zac Funk (3-0-3)
2.PG: Riley Heidt (2-2-4)
3.KEL: Tij Iginla (1-2-3)
POST-GAME INTERVIEW WITH GM & HEAD COACH MARK LAMB
POST-GAME INTERVIEW WITH ZAC FUNK