Wednesday Night in the Dub Preview: Cougars, Americans set for high-octane tilt
Wednesday Night in the Dub is back with a banger.
The B.C. Division-leading Prince George Cougars have rolled south of the border to take on the powerhouse Tri-City Americans, who have emerged as one of the biggest surprises of the 2024-25 WHL season.
Tri-City may be third in the U.S., but they’d lead any other division with their 18-6-2-0 record, highlighted by a monster 12-game win streak that stretched from October to November.
Reigning WHL Rookie of the Month Gavin Garland (who recently scored Tri-City’s Teddy Bear Toss goal) leads the first-year scoring race and sits second on his team with 16 goals and 15 assists for 31 points and a +21 rating through his first 25 WHL matches and veteran Brandon Whynott recently surpassed 100 WHL points with a career-best campaign that’s seen him average 1.31 points per game.
Utah Hockey Club prospect Terrell Goldsmith’s 6-foot-4, 218-pound frame has cut an intimidating figure on the Tri-City blueline since arriving in Kennewick this season while opening things up offensively for draft-eligible Jackson Smith, who is tied for second on the team with 19 assists.
On the other side, Prince George is getting back on track after a major pair of home wins that snapped a three-game slide- but they’ll be without Captain and Minnesota Wild prospect Riley Heidt, who is in Ottawa trying out for a spot on Canada’s National Junior Team ahead of the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Even without Heidt, the Cougars boast a lot of firepower up front.
Los Angeles Kings prospect Koehn Ziemmer, a late return from NHL training camp, is tied for sixth in the league in goals (20) despite being tied for the fewest games played by any skater in the top 10.
Ziemmer and Washington Capitals prospect Terik Parascak are also pacing their team with three game-winning tallies each.
Parascak, dubbed the ‘Super Rookie’ in his inaugural WHL season, is on pace to crack 100 points once again with 14 goals and 24 assists for 38 points in 24 outings.
The Cats have also seen rookie blueliner Carson Carels heating up with 15 points- including the Teddy Bear Toss goal in Saturday’s sellout win at the CN Centre in the Northern Capital.
Both teams rank in the top 10 in the WHL for most goals scored and fewest goals against.
Between the pipes, Joshua Ravensbergen and Lukas Matecha are two of only three goalies in the WHL with 14 or more wins, though Ravensbergen has a slight edge in goals against average and save percentage.
The match will also see two projected first-round picks in the 2025 NHL Entry Draft go head to head.
Ams defenceman Smith and Cougars goalie Ravensbergen are on opposing sides again after teaming up to represent the CHL at November’s first-ever CHL USA Prospects Challenge in Ontario.
All Wednesday Night in the Dub featured games will be free to stream on WHL Live and the WHL’s YouTube Channel.
STAT PACK
| Prince George Cougars | Tri-City Americans | |
| Record | 15-8-3-2 (1st B.C.) | 18-6-2-0 (3rd U.S.) |
| Leading Scorers | Borya Valis (15G, 24A, 39PTS)
Terik Parascak (14G, 24A, 38 PTS) Riley Heidt (13G, 24A, 37PTS) |
Brandon Whynott (14G, 20A,34PTS)
Gavin Garland (16G, 15A, 31PTS) Carter MacAdams (10G, 19A, 29PTS) |
| Leading Goaltender | Joshua Ravensbergen (14-3-3-1, 3.02GAA, .901 save percentage) | Lukas Matecha (14-4-1-0, 3.54GAA, .896 save percentage) |
| Powerplay | 25% (7th) | 17% (21st) |
| Penalty Kill | 81.7% (5th) | 82.7% (3rd) |
NHL PROSPECTS
Prince George Cougars
F- Riley Heidt (Minnesota Wild)
D- Viliam Kmec (Vegas Golden Knights)
F- Hunter Laing (Calgary Flames)
F- Terik Parascak (Washington Capitals)
F- Koehn Ziemmer (Los Angeles Kings)
Tri-City Americans
F- Max Curran (Colorado Avalanche)
D- Terrell Goldsmith (Utah Hockey Club)
Top 2025 NHL Draft Eligibles (per NHL Central Scouting)
Prince George Cougars
F- Aiden Foster (C)
F- Jett Lajoie (C)
G- Joshua Ravensbergen (A)
Tri-City Americans
F- Jordan Gavin (C)
F- Cassius (Cash) Koch (C)
D- Jackson Smith (A)
SOUND OFF
Terik Parascak
On snapping a slide with two big home wins:
“We knew something needed to change. Our work ethic, compete, just everything. You get back to the simple things, do a lot of little things right and found success that way.”
On what he’s improved most since being drafted by the Washington Capitals in June:
“I think my biggest improvement would be my skating. I think that was obviously was kind of my biggest thing I needed to work on as last season kind of went on. It was a big focus of mine heading into the summertime and I feel like that’s improved a lot.”
On the X factor for tonight’s game:
“For us, it’s if we come all ready to play for a full 60 minutes. We’ve struggled with that a little bit this year, and I think just if we play a full 60 we’ll have success against them.”
On facing off against former minor hockey teammate and longtime opponent Gavin Garland:
“He’s obviously a really special player. Played against him growing up for a lot of years and always had tough times against him. He’s a fun guy to play against and a super skilled player. Works hard. He’s a good skater, just kind of a power forward. He’s a tough guy to play against and uses his strengths to his advantage.”
Gavin Garland
On developing in the WHL after winning an AJHL Championship in 2024:
“It was definitely a bit of a harder adjustment thing for me. Obviously the AJ was physical, but I think that speed coming here was a lot different especially with your thought process as well. I had to be thinking faster and making quicker plays. It’s been fun, though, adjusting and we have a really good group of guys to help make it an easier transition. So it’s been been a lot of fun, and I think I’m starting to get a get a handle on it.”
On Tri-City staying cool in tight games and comeback wins:
“Our intermissions have been pretty huge. I know we’re pretty relaxed going into that third period and we’re down maybe one or two goals and I think we’re able to stay resilient in that aspect. Everyone stays positive for the majority of the time and it’s been easy for us to just keep it going to the third, to make those comebacks.”
On the X factor for tonight’s game:
“If we’re willing to do the right things in every zone of the game I think we’ll take them, but it’s going to be it’s going to be hard. I think every line that’s out there we have to play hard against and be smart defensively. I think work ethic, at the end of the day, is what will get us that- especially discipline, too.”
On facing off against Terik Parascak:
“His smarts around the net is something else. You watch it and it’s incredible. I think he’s got great finishing touch and he uses his teammates really well. It’ll be pretty cool to play against him.”
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