Royals fight to bitter end with Cougars
Victoria, BC. — The Victoria Royals returned to the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre tonight to host the Prince George Cougars and kick off the final weekend of the 2025-26 regular season. After going down by three halfway through the game, the Royals scored three unanswered to force the game into extra time, but fell in the shootout with a final score of 4-3.
The Cougars had the lone goal of the opening frame, a powerplay goal from Bauer Dumanski at 16:04 and led the Royals 1-0 headed into the first intermission.
Prince George doubled down with a goal from Brock Souch early in the second period, and Aiden Foster gave them a three-goal lead at 7:21. The Royals got on the board with a goal from Nolan Stewart, assisted by Miles Cooper, around the 13-minute mark of the frame, but trailed 3-1 after 40 minutes of play.
Caleb Matthews cut the Royals’ deficit to one with a powerplay tally, assisted by Heath Nelson and Landon Young, at 4:23 of the third period. Matthews notched his second powerplay goal of the game just over two minutes later, assisted by Nolan Stewart and Heath Nelson, bringing the game square at three. The teams remained knotted up at the end of regulation, forcing an overtime frame.
After a scoreless overtime frame, Prince George took the game with two consecutive goals in the shootout.
Scoring Summary
1st Period
16:04 Prince George Cougars Goal
Bauer Dumanski (9) assisted by Townes Kozicky and Kayden Lemire
2nd Period
0:20 Prince George Cougars Goal
Brock Souch (28) assisted by Aiden Foster
7:21 Prince George Cougars Goal
Aiden Foster (14) assisted by Cole Hajt and Arsenii Anisimov
13:03 Victoria Royals Goal
Nolan Stewart (16) assisted by Miles Cooper
3rd Period
4:23 Victoria Royals Goal
Caleb Matthews (14) assisted by Heath Nelson and Landon Young
6:35 Victoria Royals Goal
Caleb Matthews (15) assisted by Nolan Stewart and Heath Nelson
Overtime
No Scoring
Shootout
Roan Woodward (VIC) – MISS
Dmitri Yakutsenak (PG) – GOAL
Ludovic Perreault (VIC) – MISS
Aiden Foster (PG) – GOAL
Shots on Goal
Royals – 37
Cougars – 32
Powerplay
Royals – 2/3
Cougars – 1/2
Goalie Stats
Royals
Ethan Eskit – 29/32
Cougars
Joshua Ravensbergen – 34/37
What’s Next
The Royals and Cougars will face off again tomorrow night for the final clash of the 2025-26 regular season. Puck drop is set for 6:05 PM at the Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
