WHL Playoffs Top Performer: April 19, 2024
Prince George’s alternate captain is leading the team great ‘Heidts’ in the 2024 WHL Playoffs presented by Nutrien.
Minnesota Wild prospect Riley Heidt tallied two goals and two assists as the Cougars downed the Kelowna Rockets 6-3 to advance to the Western Conference Championship for the first time since 2007.
The Cougars struck first on a first-period play as Heidt fed regular season goal leader Zac Funk for a smart tally on the Kelowna doorstep.
In the middle frame, the Saskatoon, Sask. product went end-to-end with the puck, wrapping around the Rockets net, turning and firing his first goal of the night home.
The snipe would stand as the series-winner.
One of the most common terrors is acrophobia.
You know- the fear of Heidts.#mnwild | @PGCougars | #FeedingTheFuture pic.twitter.com/FmNt1O4xZD
— The WHL (@TheWHL) April 20, 2024
He’d find the back of the net once again less than four minutes later, crashing the net and hacking away at the puck, finally guiding it across the goal line to give the Cougars a formidable 5-2 lead.
Heidt capped off the night with a crisp powerplay passing sequence that ended with Funk burying his hat trick goal.
The 5-foot-11, 182-pound forward led all Prince George skaters in the second round with nine points (three goals, six assists) and a +4 rating.
He has three goals and 13 assists for 16 points through nine postseason contests.
Prince George now advances to face Portland in the WHL Western Conference Championship, with Game 1 set for Friday, April 26 at the CN Centre at 7:00 p.m. PST.