Preview | Feb . 9 | Royals @ Cougars
Prince George, BC – The Royals four game road trip continues with the start of a two game series in Prince George against the Cougars. Puck drop is set for 7:00 pm on Friday night at the CN Centre.
FORMER COUGAR
Victoria Royals defenseman Jaren Brinson broke into the WHL as a member of the Prince George Cougars. The Cougar’s drafted Brinson in the second round (36th overall) in the 2019 WHL Prospects Draft. Brinson spent parts of two seasons in Prince George playing 72 games between 2020 and 2022. The Royals acquired Brinson on January 6th from the Regina Pats.
ROYALS LAST GAME
On Wednesday night, the Royals visited the Kelowna Rockets at Prospera Place in Kelowna. Jari Kykkanen started in goal for the Rockets, while the Royals countered with Jayden Kraus. In the first period, the Rockets would strike first on a goal from Tij Iginla just over seven minutes in. With seven minutes to go in the first, Hiroki Gojsic would beat Kraus to double the Rockets lead. Both teams would press in the second and third periods, but neither goalie would be beaten again as the Rockets won 2-0. Despite being tagged with the loss, Jayden Kraus was phenomenal for the Royals, making 39 saves.
THE LAST TIME THESE TEAMS MET
PRINCE GEORGE
The Royals wrapped up a five game road trip back on December 9th, in Prince George against the Cougars. Starting in net for the Royals was Jayden Kraus, while Prince George started Joshua Ravensbergen. It took until the third period for the game’s first goal, when six minutes into the period Terik Parascak beat Jayden Kraus to give the Cougars a 1-0 lead. That would end up being the game’s only goal, as the Cougars picked up the 1-0 win. Jayden Kraus made 32 saves for the Royals in the losing effort.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
COUGARS
- The last time these two teams played, Joshua Ravensbergen picked up a shutout in the win. Ravensbergen leads the WHL in shutouts with six, while the next closest goalie has three. He has been phenomenal for the Cougars, and is also among the WHL leaders in save percentage (4th, .920) and goals against average (3rd, 2.18).
- Cougar’s forward Zac Funk is the WHL goal leader scoring with 46 goals so far this season, part of his 81 points (4th in the WHL) in just 50 games this season. Funk is fresh off a two goal night against the Kamloops Blazers on February 4th. The Cougars acquired Funk from the Calgary Hitmen on January 10th, 2023 for Carter MacAdams, a second round draft pick and a fourth round draft pick.
VICTORIA
- It hasn’t mattered where Dawson Pasternak plays, whether he’s skating as a forward, or playing as a defenseman, he keeps producing. Pasternak leads the Royals with 52 points in 45 games and has had six points in his last five games.
- Tanner Scott has authored a career year this season for the Royals. Scott has set new career high in goals (18), assists (30) and points (48), and sits third on the Royals in both goals and points.
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 • 7:00 pm
- Feb. 10 @ PG • 6:00 pm
- Mar 15 v. PG• 7:05 pm
- Mar. 16 v. PG • 6:05 pm
LAST 5 GAMES
ROYALS
- 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)
- 7-6 L v. Vancouver (01-27-2024)
COUGARS
- 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)
- 3-2 W @ Tri-City (01-27-2024)
ROYALS UPCOMING SCHEDULE
- Feb. 10 @ PG • 6:00 pm
- 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
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.cafor complete details and subscription options.
Written by Graham Morrison
