A new lethal combination unleashed terror on the Kelowna Rockets.
The trio of Brock Hirsche, Zach Pochiro and Caleb Belter contributed nine points for the Prince George Cougars in their 6-3 win Friday over the Rockets in front of 1,907 spectators at CN Centre.
With the win the Cougars (4-0-1) remain undefeated in Western Hockey League regulation time while the Rockets fell to 2-3-1.
Pochiro notched his first two WHL goals and added a pair of assists while Hirsche had two goals and one helper.
Belter had two assists.
It’s the first time the trio have played together.
The return of Chase Witala to the lineup meant a reshuffling of the lines, moving Hirsche with his new mates to make room for Witala to play
alongside Colin Jacobs and Alex Forsberg.
The Cougars led 5-2 after the first period, chasing Jordan Cooke - who recorded his first WHL shutout Wednesday in a 7-0 pasting of the Vancouver Giants - from the net after making just nine saves.
But it was the Rockets who opened the scoring as Ryan Olsen beat Cougars goalie Brett Zarowny 90 seconds into the first period for the 1-0 lead. It didn’t faze the Cats as Hirsche left the puck alone in the slot and Pochiro pounced tying the game at 1-1.
Jacobs scored his fifth goal of the season, a power-play marker set up by Troy Bourke and Jari Erricson, to give the Cats a 2-1 lead but Colten
Sissons tied the game shorthanded soon after.
Hirsche gave the Cougars a 4-2 lead with a pair of goals three minutes apart and Daulton Siwak potted his fourth goal of the season with 59
seconds remaining in Cooke’s night.
Pochiro scored the lone goal of the second period as Kelowna’s Jackson Whistle stopped 13 of 14 shots in relief.
After consecutive penalties to the Cougars to start the third period the Rockets cut their deficit to 6-3 as Olsen potted his second of the night.
Zarowny was solid in the Cougars’ net making 25 saves for the win.
Jacobs extended his point streak to five games and leads the league with 10 points. The 19-year-old has 99 points in his WHL career.
Cougars defenceman Dan Gibb will play in his 200th WHL game tonight against the Rockets at CN Centre, 7 p.m.
