RECAP: Giants Resilient vs. Cougars; Grab Point in OT Loss

Category: ArticleNovember 10, 2024

Prince George, B.C. – The Vancouver Giants came back from three separate deficits on Sunday afternoon to force overtime and grab a point in a 5-4 loss to the Prince George Cougars at the CN Centre.

The Giants’ record now sits at 9-5-3 this season, while the Cougars improve to 11-4-3-2.

Cameron Schmidt scored twice for the G-Men, becoming the first Western Hockey League player to reach 20 goals, while Ty Halaburda and Tyus Sparks also scored. Burke Hood made 30 stops in net for Vancouver.

Koehn Ziemmer had two goals for the home side, including the overtime winner. Lee Shurgot, Hunter Laing and Jett Lajoie had the other Cougars’ goals.

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GAME SUMMARY

The Cougars got two power play goals in a row to take a 2-0 lead midway through the opening period, first from Ziemmer off a pass from Riley Heidt, and then Shurgot off a pass from Ziemmer.

The Giants responded on a power play of their own when Schmidt beat goaltender Cooper Michaluk from the right point for his 19th goal of the season.

#CS19 with his 19th goal of the season!

Cameron Schmidt gets the Giants on the board, 2-1 them.@TheWHL | #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/5csm0enjiB

— Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) November 10, 2024

Vancouver found the equalizer midway through the second period thanks to Halaburda’s sixth of the season off the rush, which happened immediately following a successful Giants penalty kill.

Burdman ties it up for the G-Men at 2!

Ty Halaburda with his 6th of the season.@TheWHL pic.twitter.com/TVEBozmo0p

— Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) November 10, 2024

Laing put Prince George back ahead 3-2 with 5:07 remaining in the second period off a Giants turnover in their own zone.

Before the second period came to a close, Sparks tied the game 3-3 off a pass from Jakob Oreskovic.

From Oreo to Sparksy, we are now tied again, 3-3!

Tyus Sparks with his second of the season!✌️ pic.twitter.com/AgYoL1O7RV

— Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) November 10, 2024

The Cougars went ahead for the third time early in the third period when Lajoie put away a loose puck after Dermot Johnston’s point shot was stopped.

With under two minutes to go, the Giants pulled the goalie and got some late-game heroics from Schmidt, who rifled it home from the right circle on the short side past Michaluk’s glove to force overtime.

The hometown kid with the equalizer, Cameron Schmidt's second of the game!@TheWHL | #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/Z2IkiMoVMR

— Vancouver Giants (@WHLGiants) November 11, 2024

The Cougars won the face-off to begin 3-on-3 overtime and only needed 31 seconds to end the game, after Heidt dropped the puck for Ziemmer, who walked into the high slot and snapped it home for his second of the game and 17th goal of the season.

STATISTICS

SOG: VAN — 6/10/8 = 24 | PG – 13/8/13/1 = 35
PP: VAN—1/3 | PG — 2/5
Face-Offs: VAN — 29 | PG — 36

3 STARS

1st: PG – Koehn Ziemmer – 2G, 1A, 3 SOG,
2nd: VAN – Cameron Schmidt – 2G, 2 SOG
3rd: PG – Riley Heidt – 3A, 2 SOG

GOALTENDING BATTLE

Vancouver: LOSS – Burke Hood (30 saves / 35)
Prince George: WIN – Cooper Michaluk (20 saves / 24 shots)

UP NEXT

Date	Opponent	Time	Location
Friday, November 15	Kamloops Blazers	7:00 PM PT	Langley Events Centre
Saturday, November 16	Portland Winterhawks	7:00 PM PT	Langley Events Centre
Friday, November 22	Kelowna Rockets

B.C. Division