GAME 4 PREVIEW: Cougars Aim to Punch Ticket to Western Conference Final in Kelowa
KELOWNA, BC – Tonight, at Prospera Place, the Prince George Cougars are looking to punch their ticket to the Western Conference Final for the first time since 2007. The Cats lead the Western Conference Semi-Finals 3-0.
The Prince George Cougars are one win away from their first Western Conference Final appearance since 2007 after a 4-3 OT victory over the Kelowna Rockets, Tuesday at Prospera Place. Matteo Danis netted the OT winner, which was his first of the post-season while Hudson Thornton, Ondrej Becher, and Borya Valis also added singles.
PG GOAL SCORERS: Thornton, Becher, Valis, Danis
GOALIE: Ravensbergen – 32/35 (.914)
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 13, 2024 | PG [5] vs KEL [0] | Heidt | Ravensbergen | Kykkanen |
| April 16, 2024 | PG [3] vs KEL [2] [OT] | Danis | Ravensbergen | Kykkanen |
COUGARS UPCOMING SCHEDULE
| DATE | TIME (PDT) | OPPONENT | VENUE |
| 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 (3-2 PG/OT)
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, Borya Valis
Assists (10): Riley Heidt
Points (11): Zac Funk, Ondrej Becher, Riley Heidt
Plus/Minus (+8): Ondrej Becher
2023-2024 PLAYOFF GOALTENDING LEADERS
Wins (6): Joshua Ravensbergen
Save % (.938): Ty Young
Goals Against Average (1.66) – Josh Ravensbergen
Shutouts (2): Joshua Ravensbergen
WHO’S HOT
Ondrej Becher has points in 26 consecutive games (Incl. Reg Season)
Zac Funk has points in 20 of 21 games (Incl. Reg Season)
Riley Heidt has points in 15 of his last 16 games (Incl. Reg Season)
Hudson Thornton has points in 9 of his last 14 games
TONIGHTS STORYLINES & STATS
TONIGHT: The Cougars battle the Rockets in Game 4 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals. A win tonight gives the Cats their first berth into the Western Conference Finals in 17 years. 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).
Terik Parascak (#15), Ondrej Becher (#69), and Hunter Laing (#86) have all been ranked in NHL Central Scouting's final rankings for the 2024 #NHLDraft! https://t.co/TtYKei1Ug7 pic.twitter.com/F0cmhm7m2B
— xy – Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) 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: Wednesday, April 17th– 7:05 pm
WHERE: Prospera Place – Kelowna, BC
LISTEN: 94.3 The Goat
WATCH: WHL Live
