RECAP: Oil Kings dump Cougars in pre-season action
Grande Cache, AB – The Edmonton Oil Kings battled the Prince George Cougars in front of a sold-out crowd on Friday night in pre-season action in Grande Cache, Alberta – helping raise money for town’s minor hockey programs.
This was the first of two games between the Club’s this weekend at the Grande Cache Recreation Centre and thanks to a pair of third period goals, the Oil Kings were able to secure a 4-3 win.
The Cougars opened the scoring early in the first period courtesy a shorthanded tally from Ondrej Becher just 6:16 into the game.
Following the goal, Oil Kings starting netminder Logan Cunningham had to leave the game for a handful of minutes due to an equipment issue. In relief, Kolby Hay stopped all four shots he faced, including a penalty shot by Terik Parascak.
The Oil Kings were able to level the score late in the first period after captain Rhett Melnyk cashed in a rebound off a Mason Finley shot on an Edmonton power play at the 16:14 mark.
Early in the second period, the Oil Kings and Cougars traded goals 1:05 apart to move the score to 2-2. Luke Powell briefly gave Edmonton the lead with his second goal of the pre-season after taking a pass from Presley Kerner in the neutral zone, stepping into the right-circle and lasering a shot past the blocker of Brady Holtvogt. Carlin Dezainde provided the response for the Cougars taking advantage of an Edmonton turnover.
Late in the middle stanza, the Cougars had a chance to take the lead as Becher found himself on another shorthanded break, but this time Cunningham was able to deny the veteran forward.
The Cougars did pull ahead 5:15 into the third period as Dezainde collected his second goal of the evening with a perfectly placed shot from the right-circle on an odd-man rush.
Just over three minutes later, the Oil Kings knotted the score again after Adam Jecho weaved his way down the ice and fired a shot over the blocker of Madden Mulawka from the right-circle.
The Oil Kings would pull ahead for good with just under eight minutes left in regulation with another power play, this one coming off the stick of Ethan MacKenzie as he was able to find a seam from the top of the right circle.
Cunningham picked up the win in the Oil Kings crease making 41 saves on 44 shots, while the Cougars goaltending tandem combined for 25 saves on 29 Edmonton shots. The Oil Kings went 2-for-7 on the power play, the Cougars were 0-for-4.
The Oil Kings wrap up their pre-season schedule in Grande Cache when they battle the Cougars again on Sunday at 1:00 P.M.
The Edmonton Oil Kings next home game is their 2023-24 Home Opener on Saturday, September 23 at 7:00 P.M. when they take on the Red Deer Rebels at Rogers Place.
The Oil Kings are Edmonton’s first choice for family fun with great seats starting at $20 and season seats for as low as $299 for an entire season of thrilling WHL action!
Head to OilKings.ca to secure your seat today!
