GAME 5 PREVIEW: Cougars Look to Close Out Series at Home vs. Rockets
PRINCE GEORGE, BC – Tonight, at the CN Centre, the Prince George Cougars battle the Kelowna Rockets in Game 5 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals with the Cougars leading the series 3-1.
The Prince George Cougars dropped their first post-season contest with a 2-1 setback to the Kelowna Rockets, Wednesday at Prospera Place. Hudson Thornton supplied the lone Cougar tally, while Ty Young was great In the Cougar net, making 27 saves.
PG GOAL SCORERS: Thornton
GOALIE: Young 27/29 (.931)
PP: 0/1
PK: 0/1
COUGARS LAST FIVE RESULTS, Record: 5-0-0-0
DATE | RESULT | GWG | PG GOALIE | OPP. GOALIE |
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 |
April 16, 2024 | PG [3] at KEL [2] [OT] | Danis | Ravensbergen | Kykkanen |
April 17, 2024 | PG [1] at KEL [2] | Szturc | Young | Kykkanen |
COUGARS UPCOMING SCHEDULE
DATE | TIME (PDT) | OPPONENT | VENUE |
April 19, 2024 | 7:00 pm | Game 5 – vs. Kelowna | 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 (2-1 KEL)
Apr. 19/2024 – at Prince George
Apr. 21/2024 – at Kelowna * (If NEC)
Apr. 23/2024 – at Prince George * (If NEC)
2023-2024 PLAYOFF STATS LEADERS
Goals (5): Terik Parascak, Borya Valis
Assists (11): Riley Heidt
Points (12): Zac Funk, Riley Heidt
Plus/Minus (+8): Ondrej Becher
2023-2024 PLAYOFF GOALTENDING LEADERS
Wins (6): Joshua Ravensbergen
Save % (.936): Ty Young
Goals Against Average (1.66) – Josh Ravensbergen
Shutouts (2): Joshua Ravensbergen
PLAYOFF HISTORY vs. KELOWNA
2000 Conf. Quarterfinals (PG Wins 4-1)
2011 Conf. Quarterfinals (KEL Wins 4-0)
WHO’S HOT
Ondrej Becher has points in 26 of 27 games (Incl. Reg Season)
Zac Funk has points in 21 of 22 games (Incl. Reg Season)
Riley Heidt has points in 16 of his last 17 games (Incl. Reg Season)
Hudson Thornton has points in 10 of his last 15 games
TONIGHTS STORYLINES & STATS
TONIGHT: The Cougars battle the Rockets in Game 5 of the Western Conference Semi-Finals. A win tonight gives the Cats their first berth into the Western Conference Finals in 17 years. “It’s a best of seven for a reason” said Assistant Coach Carter Rigby. “We are excited to be back in front of the beset building in the league.” 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 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 at the time of being named the goaltender of the week.
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.
HEY NOW, YOU’RE AN ALL-STAR: The BC Division’s first and second all-start teams featured six Prince George Cougars. Zac Funk, Riley Heidt, and Hudson Thornton cracked the first all-star team while Viliam Kmec, Terik Parascak, and Joshua Ravensbergen were named to the second all-star team.
PRE-GAME INTERVIEW WITH GM & HEAD COACH MARK LAMB
PRE-GAME INTERVIEW WITH KELOWNA HEAD COACH KRIS MALLETTE
HOW TO WATCH/LISTEN
WHEN: Friday, April 19th – 7:00 pm
WHERE: CN Centre – Prince George, BC
LISTEN: 94.3 The Goat
WATCH: WHL Live