Game Preview: Dec 14th vs. Vancouver Giants
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Last Game: The Cougars (10-14-0-0) have won back-to-back 3-2 games heading into tonight’s contest. Prince George edged the Kamloops Blazers 3-2 on Saturday at the CN Centre in the team’s annual Teddy Bear Toss. Ethan Samson scored twice, and Riley Heidt added a single. Taylor Gauthier was the star Saturday, as the veteran goaltender stopped 48 of 50 shots. Saturday was the Cougars’ first win against Kamloops this season.
Tonight’s Game: Tonight, is the fifth of 12 meetings with the Giants. The Cougars have won one of the previous four match ups. The Cougars last met the Giants on Nov 10th in Prince George, with the Giants winning 5-3. The Cougars lone win against Vancouver came on Nov 9th, a 1-0 victory on Nov 9th. Craig Armstrong and Carter MacAdams each have three points (1g-2a) against Vancouver. Vancouver’s Justin Sourdif has seven points (2g-5a) in three games against the Cougars.
Season Series
| Oct 8th at Vancouver 6-4 L | Dec 18th at Vancouver 7:00 pm |
| Nov 5th at Vancouver 3-1 L | Jan 14th at Vancouver 7:30 pm |
| Nov 9th at Prince George 1-0 W | Jan 15th at Vancouver 7:00 pm |
| Nov 10th at Prince George 5-3 L | Feb 11th at Prince George 7:00 pm |
| Dec 14th at Prince George 7:00 pm | Feb 12th at Prince George 7:00 pm |
| Dec 15th at Prince George 7:00 pm | Mar 27th at Vancouver 4:00 pm |
Prince George Cougars
General Manager & Head Coach: Mark Lamb
2021-22 Record: GP 24 10-14-0-0 (4th B.C. Division)
Home: 6-6-0-0
Streak: 2-0-0-0
Last 10: 4-6-0-0
Last Game: 3-2 win vs. Kamloops Blazers (Dec 11th)
Next Game: Dec 15th vs. Vancouver Giants
Stat Leaders
| Craig Armstrong 7-8-15 |
| Ethan Samson 4-11-15 |
| Hudson Thornton 4-11-15 |
| Riley Heidt 5-9-14 |
| Koehn Ziemmer 4-8-12 |
Players to Watch
- Taylor Gauthier is playing his best hockey of the season, maybe of his career. The 20-year-old has .949 save percentage in his last three appearances. In the last three games he has played, Gauthier has stopped 94 of 99 shots, including 48 in Saturday’s win over Kamloops. The Calgary, AB product owns .920 save percentage through 12 games, which is fourth among goalies in the WHL. He has played the Giants once already this season. Gauthier strong play is more crucial given the fact Tyler Brennan is out day-to-day with a lower body injury.
- Has Ethan Samson found another gear offensively? the 18-year-old blue liner has four points (2g-2a) in his last four games and is coming off a two-goal game against Kamloops on Saturday. The Philadelphia Flyers prospect now sits second in team scoring with 15 points (4g-11a) in 24 games. His heavy shot from the blue line can be an ‘X’ factor and we’re seeing that lately.
Vancouver Giants
General Manager: Barclay Parneta
Head Coach: Michael Dyck
2021-22 Record: GP 24 13-10-1-0 (2nd B.C. Division)
Away: 7-5-1-0
Streak: 0-3-0-0
Last 10: 6-4-0-0
Last Game: 5-2 loss at Victoria Royals (Dec 11th)
Next Game: Dec 15th at Prince George Cougars
Stat Leaders
| Justin Sourdif 8-21-29 |
| Fabian Lysell 11-17-28 |
| Ty Thorpe 8-16-24 |
| Alex Cotton 9-12-21 |
| Adam Hall 9-7-16 |
Players to Watch
- Alex Cotton has been a nice fit on the Giants’ blue line. The 20-year-old defenceman was acquired last month from the Lethbridge Hurricanes and has put up 15 points (5g-10a) in 13 since. Cotton is a Detroit Red Wings draft pick and has five points (1g-4a) in his last five games. He’s a threat from the blue line every time he steps onto the ice.
- Zack Ostapchuk will be a big piece for the Giants over the next two-three weeks. Their top two leading scorers, Justin Sourdif (Canada) and Fabian Lysell (Sweden) will be gone at the World Junior Hockey Championship. With those two scoring threats missing, a forward like Ostapchuk will be counted on to pick up the slack. So far, so good. Ostapchuk has seven points (5g-2a) in his last six games. Through 19 games he has 12 points (6g-6a). The Ottawa Senators draftee will be counted on along with Ty Thorpe and Adam Hall going forward.
