Cougars extend win streak

The Prince George Cougars stretched their Western Hockey League win streak to three games after a 3-0 shutout  win over the Vancouver Giants on Wednesday night.  

Koehn Ziemmer scored the Cougars first two goals, both in the second period, and Tyson Upper added an empty-net goal. 

For Ziemmer, he took over the team goal scoring lead with his twogoal performance. He nowhas goals in three-straight games and six over his last five games. 

Taylor Gauthier marked his 150th game in the WHL with his first shutout of the season as he stopped all 26 shots fired his way. 

In his last five starts, all wins, he sports a 1.00 goals-against average and .967 save percentage. 

The victory improved the Cougars record to 9-7-2-1, as they leapfrogged the Giants for second place in the B.C Division. Played at Sandman Centre in Kamloops, it was the final game of the six-game season series between the teams, as the Cougars went 4-1-0-1 against the Giants in their hub.   

Ziemmer opened the scoring four minutes and 36-seconds into the middle frame as he made no mistake on a breakaway. He then doubled his team’s lead late in the second period on a great individual effort. The 16-year-old grabbed the loose puck at the side of the net, wheeled into the slot, before he spun and fired it through the goalie’s arm. 

Upper put the finishing touches on the win with his empty-net goal with just over 90-seconds  left in regulation.

The Cougars played Wednesday’s game with only 16 skaters due to injury and a suspension.  

Jonny Hooker is eligible to return Saturday, as Wednesday was the final game of his four-game ban.