GAME 3 PREVIEW: Cougars Aim to Take Commanding 3-0 Series Lead in Kelowna
KELOWNA, BC – Tonight, at Prospera Place, the Western Conference Semi-Finals shift to the Okanagan as the Prince George Cougars battle the Kelowna Rockets in Game 3 at 7:05 pm. The Cats lead the series 2-0.
The Prince George Cougars secured their second win of the second round with a 5-0 blanking of the Kelowna Rockets. Joshua Ravensbergen earned his second WHL playoff shutout, making 16 saves on 16 Rocket shots. Riley Heidt, Viliam Kmec, Zac Funk, Borya Valis, and Oren Shtrom were the PG goal scorers in the victory.
PG GOAL SCORERS: Heidt, Kmec, Funk, Valis, Shtrom
GOALIE: Ravensbergen – 16/16 (1.000)
PP: 0/6
PK: 4/4
COUGARS LAST FIVE RESULTS, Record: 5-0-0-0
| DATE | RESULT | GWG | PG GOALIE | OPP. GOALIE |
| March 24, 2024 | PG [7] vs SPO [4] | Dezainde | Ravensbergen | Cowan/Michaluk |
| April 2, 2024 | PG [4] at SPO [2] | Thornton | Ravensbergen | Michaluk |
| April 3, 2024 | PG [3] at SPO [2] | Funk | Young | Cowan |
| April 12, 2024 | PG [4] vs KEL [0] | McNutt | Ravensbergen | Kykkanen |
| April 13, 2024 | PG [5] vs KEL [0] | Heidt | Ravensbergen | Kykkanen |
COUGARS UPCOMING SCHEDULE
| DATE | TIME (PDT) | OPPONENT | VENUE |
| April 16, 2024 | 7:05 pm | Game 3 – at Kelowna | Prospera Place |
| April 17, 2024 | 7:05 pm | Game 4 – at Kelowna | Prospera Place |
| April 19, 2024 | 7:00 pm | Game 5 – vs. Kelowna (IF NEC) | CN Centre |
| April 21, 2024 | 2:05 pm | Game 6 – at. Kelowna (IF NEC) | Prospera Place |
| April 23, 2024 | 7:00 pm | Game 7 – vs Kelowna (IF NEC) | CN Centre |
PLAYOFF SCHEDULE – PG vs KEL
Apr. 12/2024 – at Prince George (4-0 PG)
Apr. 13/2024– at Prince George (5-0 PG)
Apr. 16/2024 – at Kelowna
Apr. 17/2024 – at Kelowna
Apr. 19/2024 – at Prince George* (If NEC)
Apr. 21/2024 – at Kelowna * (If NEC)
Apr. 23/2024 – at Prince George * (If NEC)
2023-2024 REGULAR SEASON SERIES
Oct. 3.2023 – at Prince George (3-2 PG)
Oct. 4/2023 – at Prince George (8-1 PG)
Oct. 13/2023 – at Kelowna (5-4 KEL)
Nov. 18/2023 – at Kelowna (5-4 PG)
Jan. 12/2023 – at Prince George (5-2 PG)
Jan. 13/2023 – at Prince George (3-2 KEL/SO)
Feb. 24/2023 – at Kelowna (6-5 PG/SO)
Mar. 13/2023 – at Kelowna (6-5 PG/OT)
2023-2024 PLAYOFF STATS LEADERS
Goals (5): Terik Parascak
Assists (9): Riley Heidt
Points (11): Zac Funk
Plus/Minus (+8): Keaton Dowhaniuk, Ephram McNutt
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WHO’S HOT
Ondrej Becher has points in 25 consecutive games (Incl. Reg Season)
Zac Funk has points in 20 consecutive games (Incl. Reg Season)
Riley Heidt has points in 14 of his last 15 games (Incl. Reg Season)
Hudson Thornton has points in 8 of his last 13 games (Incl. Reg Season)
TONIGHTS STORYLINES & STATS
TONIGHT: The Cougars battle the Rockets in Game 3 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals. Prince George has the chance to put a stranglehold on the series tonight as it shifts to Kelowna. PG finished 49-15-1-3 record (102 points) in the regular season which has won the BC Division and Western Conference. The Cats finished 25-7-1-1 at home and 24-8-0-2 on the road this season.
NHL CENTRAL SCOUTING: Three Cougars were listed on NHL Central Scouting’s final-season rankings. Terik Parascak, 17, headlines the duo with being the #15 ranked skater. The Lethbridge, AB finished the regular season with 105 points in 68 games (43-62-103) and currently has five goals in six playoff games at the time of the rankings being released. 19-year-old Ondrej Becher enters the rankings once again, coming in at #69. Becher is coming off a superb 2023-2024 season with 96 points in 58 games (32-64-96). Hunter Laing rounds out the trio, being ranked at #86 on the the final rankings. Laing finished the campaign with 25 points in 66 games (11-14-15).
The NHL Central Scouting Final Rankings are now available on https://t.co/ONjCiALkyX – 2024 Upper Deck #NHLDraft https://t.co/Ne4Wn0tXtJ pic.twitter.com/kLDHtpOFIs
— NHL Central Scouting (@NHLCentralScout) April 16, 2024
THE BERGER: After posting back-to-back shutouts in the Western Conference Semi-Final, rookie goaltender Josh Ravensbergen has been named the WHL goaltender of the Week. Ravensbergen’s 2024 post-season has been no short of terrific thus far, posting a 5-0 record with a 1.43 goals against average and a .943 save percentage.
CAPTAIN INKS PROFESSIONAL DEAL: Cougar captain Hudson Thornton has signed a one year contract with the AHL’ Hershey Bears, the affiliate to the Washington Capitals. “It’s really exciting. It was one of my goals this year to try and earn myself a professional contract and I am super thankful for the opportunity and will do everything I can to try and make that team next year” Thornton said.
THE BENCH BOSS: For the second consecutive season, Cougars GM & Head Coach Mark Lamb has been named the BC Division nominee for the WHL Coach of the Year. Lamb’s 2023-2024 season behind the bench was the most successful regular season in team history.
HOW TO WATCH/LISTEN
WHEN: Tuesday, April 16th– 7:05 pm
WHERE: Prospera Place – Kelowna, BC
LISTEN: 94.3 The Goat
WATCH: WHL Live
