Hockey Gives Blood Preview: Cougars at Kelowna Rockets (GM #13)
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Last Game: The Prince George Cougars lost their third consecutive game on Thursday, falling to the Kamloops Blazers 4-1. Connor Bowie scored the Cougars’ lone goal late in the first period, as Prince George led 1-0 after 20 minutes, and carried that one-goal lead inside the final minute of the second period. The Blazers’ Inaki Baragano tied the game with 41-seconds left in the middle frame. Kamloops pulled away with three third period goals from Matthew Seminoff, Reese Belton and Connor Zary. The story Thursday was Dylan Garand. The Blazers’ goaltender stopped 43 shots, including 21 in the second period, to earn first star honours. The Cougars’ Taylor Gauthier stopped 27 of 31 shots in defeat. The Cougars fell to 0-4-0-0 against the Blazers this season. The two teams meet again on April 28th.
Tonight’s Game: Tonight, is the second of four meetings between the two teams. In their first encounter, it was the Rockets winning 7-5 at the Sandman Centre on April 17th. That game was memorable in more ways than one. The two teams combined for five short-handed goals, with the Cougars scoring twice. Kelowna’s Trevor Wong had four goals, including two short-handed, in that victory. The Cougars Kyren Gronick scored twice in the third period and finished with three points. Last season, the Cougars were 1-5-2-0 against the Rockets and in the last five years they’re 7-14-4-0. Prince George is 2-8-1-0 in their last 11 trips to Kelowna to face the Rockets. As the “visitor” they’re 2-0-0 at Prosper Place this season. Both wins coming against Victoria.
Prince George Cougars
General Manager & Head Coach: Mark Lamb
2020-21 Record: GP 12 4-6-1-1 (3rd B.C. Division)
2020-21 Record vs. Kelowna: 0-1-0-0
2020-19 Record vs. Kelowna: 1-5-2-0
Last Game: 4-1 loss vs. Kamloops Blazers (April 22nd)
Next Game: April 26th vs. Victoria Royals
Leading Scorers: Craig Armstrong (5-3-8), Jonny Hooker (4-4-8), Kyren Gronick (4-4-8), Ethan Browne (3-4-7), Riley Heidt (2-5-7)
Season Series
| Apr 17th | vs. Kelowna | 7-5 L |
| Apr 23rd | @ Kelowna | 7:05 pm |
| May 4th | @ Kelowna | 7:05 pm |
| May 9th | vs. Kelowna | 6:00 pm |
Game Notes
- Taylor Gauthier is the Cougars’ projected starting goalie. Gauthier stopped 27 of 31 shots in Thursday’s loss to Kamloops. On the season, Gauthier is 2-5-0-0, with a 3.59 goals-against average (GAA), and owns a .893 save percentage (SV%). Tonight, is Gauthier’s first start against the Rockets this season.
- Looks like one change on the blue-line as Aiden Reeves will draw back into the line up. Forward grouping remains the same as Thursday’s game.
- The offence has dried up in the last two games. Prince George has scored just two goals in their last two games, despite outshooting their opponents in both of those games. The Cougars peppered the Blazers with 44 shots Thursday and had 34 shots against the Giants on Monday. The power-play may be the culprit, as the Cougars are on an 0-9 spell with the man-advantage over the last two games.
- Kyren Gronick has three points (2-1-3) against the Rockets. Majid Kaddoura has a pair of assists. Keaton Dowhaniuk, Fischer O’Brien, and Koehn Ziemmer have all scored against Kelowna. Last season, Josh Maser led the Cougars with 11 points (4-7-11) in eight games against the Rockets. Connor Bowie had five points (4-1-5), which is the most out of any returning player.
- Gronick is the top scoring rookie in the B.C. Division with eight points (4-4-8) in 12 games. He’s a point ahead of the Blazers’ Connor Levis (6-1-7) and teammate Riley Heidt (2-5-7). Gronick is second in team scoring and Heidt is fifth.
- After tonight, the Cougars have two days off before the host the Victoria Royals on Monday at the Sandman Centre.
Kelowna Rockets
President & General Manager: Bruce Hamilton
Head Coach: Kris Mallette
2020-21 Record: GP 5 3-2-0-0 (4th B.C. Division)
2020-21 Record vs. Prince George: 1-0-0-0
2020-19 Record vs. Prince George: 7-1-0-0
Last Game: 6-2 loss at Kamloops Blazers (April 20th)
Next Game: April 24th vs. Vancouver Giants
Leading Scorers: Trevor Wong (5-1-6), Dillon Hamaliuk (1-4-5), David Kope (2-3-5), Mark Liwiski (4-1-5), Andrew Cristall (2-2-4)
Game Notes
- The Rockets are coming off a 6-2 loss to the Kamloops Blazers on Tuesday. Special teams were a sore spot in that loss, as the Blazers scored five times on seven power-play opportunities. Kamloops scored three power-play goals in the first period as part of a four goal opening frame.
- Kelowna has allowed at least one power-play goal against in each of their last three games. Since returning to action on April 17th, the Rockets penalty-kill has surrendered eight goals in three games.
- In the first meeting back on April 17th, Trevor Wong had a career night. The soon to be 18-year-old had four goals, two short-handed, in the 7-5 win. Wong leads the Rockets with five goals in five games.
- Roman Basran is the Rockets’ projected starter in net. The 19-year-old is 1-1-0-0, with a 4.00 GAA and a .877 save percentage. He’s coming off a 26-save win over the Royals on Monday.
- Forward David Kope has four points (2-2-4) in his last two games. Forward Mark Liwiski has five points (4-1-5) in his last three games.
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