Preview | Feb. 10 | Royals @ Cougars
Prince George, BC – The Royals wrap up their four game road trip with the second game in as many nights against the Prince George against the Cougars. Puck drop is set for 6:00 pm Saturday night at the CN Centre.
SPECTACULAR SAVES
For the second time in as many games, 17-year-old Royals goaltender Jayden Kraus picked up the WHL’s Real Canadian Superstore Save of the Night. Against the Cougars, Zac Funk set up Ondrej Becher with a phenomenal pass, but Becher was robbed by Kraus with a sprawling cross crease save. Just two nights earlier against the Rockets, Gabriel Szturc drove from below the goal line, cut across the crease and thought he had a wide open net, before Kraus stretched out and robbed him with a scorpion like blocker save. Kraus has an 8-10-0-1 record with 23 appearances for the Royals this season.
THE LAST TIME THESE TEAMS MET
PRINCE GEORGE
It was just last night that the Royals played the Cougars in Prince George. Jayden Kraus got the start in goal for the Royals while Joshua Ravensbergen started in net for the Cougars. Late in the first period, the Cougars would score two goals in 36 seconds, from Hunter Laing and Matteo Danis, to jump ahead 2-0. The Cougars would go up 3-0 in the second period on a goal from Ephram McNutt. With just over a minute to go in the period, the Royals would get on the board courtesy of a Deegan Kinniburgh goal. In the third, Ondrej Becher would score the period’s lone goal as the Cougars went on to win 4-1. Jayden Kraus made 32 saves in net for the Royals.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
COUGARS
- A second round draft pick of the Minnesota Wild (64th overall, 2023 NHL Entry Draft) Riley Heidt has had a spectacular season for the Cougars. Heidt is second in the WHL in points with 84 in 49 games. He has been held pointless in his last two games, but he has not had a stretch longer than two games without a point at any time this season.
- Terik Parascak leads all rookies in goals (30) and points (72) in the WHL this season. Originally drafted by the Cougars in the fourth round (78th overall) of the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft, Parascak is considered a top prospect for the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.
VICTORIA
- Deegan Kinniburgh scored his fourth goal of the year last night against the Cougars. The product of Taber, Alberta is in the midst of his rookie year for the Royals, having been drafted by Victoria in the ninth round (171st overall) of the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft.
- Acquired via trade from the Moose Jaw Warriors, Ben Riche has authored a career year this season for the Royals. Riche has 13 goals and 28 points in 45 games.
SEASON RECORDS
vs COUGARS
- Sep. 29 v. PG • 11-2 Loss
- Sep. 30 v. PG • 5-3 Loss
- Dec. 08 @ PG • 5-3 Win
- Dec. 09 @ PG • 1-0 Loss
- Feb. 09 @ PG • 4-1 Loss
- Feb. 10 @ PG • 6:00 pm
- Mar. 15 v. PG• 7:05 pm
- Mar. 16 v. PG • 6:05 pm
LAST 5 GAMES
ROYALS
- 4-1 L @ Prince George (02-09-2024)
- 2-0 L @ Kelowna (02-07-2024)
- 5-3 L @ Seattle (02-04-2024)
- 3-2 L v. Seattle (02-02-2024)
- 3-2 W v. Vancouver (01-28-2024)
COUGARS
- 4-1 W v. Victoria (02-09-2024)
- 5-3 W v. Kamloops (02-04-2024)
- 3-2 L @ Vancouver (02-02-2024)
- 5-2 W @ Seattle (01-30-2024)
- 5-4 L @ Wenatchee (01-28-2024)
ROYALS UPCOMING SCHEDULE
- Feb. 14 v. VAN • 7:05 pm
- Feb. 16 v. KEL • 7:05 pm
- Feb. 17 v. KEL • 6:05 pm
- Feb. 19 @ KAM • 2:00 pm
- Feb. 23 v. POR • 7:05 pm
WATCH AND LISTEN
Radio broadcast
Royals games will be broadcast on 91.3 FM the Zone this season with Marlon Martens calling all of the action.
Online video stream
All Royals games will be available on WHL Live. WHL Live is available to fans anywhere in the world, providing high-quality streaming of WHL games on Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV platforms, via mobile with iOS and Android, and on web using Safari or Google Chrome web browsers. Visit watch.chl.ca for complete details and subscription options.
Written by Graham Morrison
