Heidt’s Heroics Propel Cougars to Dramatic OT Victory
PRINCE GEORGE, BC– With 63 seconds remaining in the third period, the Prince George Cougars scored twice with their net empty, and used a Riley Heidt overtime winner to defeat the Spokane Chiefs 5-4 in dramatic overtime fashion.
The scoring ignited at 3:11 of the first period when Ty Chevaldayoff of the Spokane Chiefs broke the ice, slipping one past goaltender Ty Young to take a 1-0 lead. However, the Cougars quickly responded with Matteo Danis’ wrister at 5:50, levelling the score at one apiece. The Chiefs surged back into the lead with Shea Van Olm’s 20th goal of the season at 14:16, concluding the opening frame with a 2-1 advantage in favor of the Chiefs.
Despite a goalless second period, the Cougars exerted significant pressure, outshooting Spokane 11-4 but were unable to breach goaltender Cooper Michaluk’s defense, maintaining the Chiefs’ lead at 2-1 through 40 minutes of play.
The third period intensified as Carlin Dezainde capitalized on a power-play opportunity at 6:47, drawing the Cougars level at 2-2. Yet, the resilient Chiefs surged ahead once again, with Berkly Catton netting two power-play goals at 12:51 and 17:54, extending Spokane’s lead to 4-2 late in the game. However, the Cougars mounted a relentless comeback, with Viliam Kmec narrowing the deficit to one goal at 18:57. With the net empty and 30 seconds remaining, Zac Funk delivered his 59th goal of the season on a late power-play, sending the game into overtime amidst a dramatic third period.
In the overtime period, Riley Heidt emerged as the hero, firing a puck through Michaluk’s legs at 2:03, sealing a spectacular 5-4 overtime triumph for the Cougars in a whirlwind of a hockey game and sending the nearly 4,000 fans at the CN Centre into a frenzy.
FINAL SCORE:
SPO: 4 PG: 5 (OT)
FINAL SHOTS:
SPO: 22 PG: 38
POWER-PLAYS:
SPO: 2-6 PG: 2-5
GOALTENDING:
SPO: Cooper Michaluk – 62:03 – 33/38
PG: Ty Young – 61:32 – 18/22
3 STARS:
1.PG: Riley Heidt (1-1-2 / Overtime Winner)
2.PG: Zac Funk (1-0-0)
3.SPO: Berkly Catton (2-1-3)
POST GAME INTERVIEWS WITH GM & HC MARK LAMB AND RILEY HEIDT
