Game Preview | Prince George Cougars vs. Penticton Vees | 09/18/26
PRINCE GEORGE, BC – The Regular Season has arrived! The Prince George Cougars open the 2026-27 regular season tonight against the Penticton Vees at the CN Centre. Puck drop is set for 7:00 pm.
It marks the first meeting between the two clubs since Penticton eliminated Prince George in six games in last spring’s Western Conference Semi-Final. Home Opening Rivalry Weekend is presented by the University of Northern British Columbia.
WHAT YOU SHOULD KNOW:
THE MATCHUP:
Cougars 2025-26 Regular Season Record: 44-22-2-0
Vees 2025-26 Regular Season Record: 44-14-6–3
Season Series: Penticton won four of five meetings in 2025-26
WHO TO WATCH:
COUGARS:
#18 Dmitri Yakutsenak – Yakutsenak leads all returning Cougars in goal scoring from 2025-26. The sniper from Yaroslavl, RUS scored 25 times last season and finished with 50 points. Yakutsenak also leads all returning skaters in scoring against Penticton where he compiled six points.
#17 Tre Peck: Peck was a signee of the Cougars in the 2026 off-season. Peck led all Cougars in scoring in the pre-season with a pair of goals and an assist in three games. Peck hails from Long Lake, Minnesota and played the 2025-26 season with the Spruce Grove Saints of the BCHL. He recorded 47 points in 52 games.
VEES:
#33 AJ Reyelts – The 20-year-old goaltender is off the heels of a tremendous season in 2025-26. Reyelts put up terrific numbers including a 29-6-6-2 record, along with a 2.45 goals against average, and a .906 save percentage. Reyelts was a nominee for the WHL goaltender of the Year. Former Cougar goaltender Josh Ravensbergen was the winner of that award.
#11 Gavin Katz – Katz enters his first year in the WHL after an incredible season in the United States Hockey League (USHL). He played with Green Bay and scored 30 times which ranked seventh among all skaters in the league. Katz led all Vees skaters in pre-season scoring with seven points (3-4-7).
COACHES CORNER:
“This is always an exciting part of the year when you get the season started. Training Camp is kind of over. There are still lots of decisions for us to make; we still have some guys at pro camp so it’ll be an interesting game.” GM & Head Coach Mark Lamb ahead of tonight’s game against the Vees.
“It just seems like we played them a couple of weeks ago in the playoffs. You look at their lineup, it is a totally different team, and then they’ll look at our lineup and there are a lot of different guys also. The teams are the teams, they’re going to be a good team, we have to be ready for them and prepare.” Lamb ahead of the matchup against the Penticton Vees.
TONIGHT’S DETAILS:
Puck Drop: 7:00 pm
Opponent: Penticton Vees
Venue: CN Centre
Radio: 94.3 The Goat
Watch: YouTube
Tickets: HERE
