The Prince George Cougars fell 8-6 to the Kelowna Rockets in Kelowna Wednesday night.
Despite the Cougars limiting the Rockets to four shots in the opening period, they were able to get the first two goals of the game from Colton Dach and Gabriel Szturc. The Cougars were able to cut into the lead from a Chase Wheatcroft power-play goal. Prince George trailed 2-1 after the first period.
In the second period, Kelowna added to their lead with a short-handed goal from Adam Kydd, but the Cougars responded with two of their own to tie the game, getting goals from Koehn Ziemmer and Wheatcroft. The Rockets re[1]stored their lead late in the period with Adam Kydd scoring his second of the evening. The Cougars trailed 4-3 after 40 minutes.
In the third, the Rockets and Cougars went blow for blow. The Rockets got their two-goal lead back with a Caden Price marker. Prince George responded once again with goals from Cole Dubinsky (his first as a Cougar) and Ziemmer just over two minutes apart. Adam Kydd then scored his hat-trick goal to make it 6-5 Kelowna, but the Cougars had an answer with Noah Boyko finding the back of the net to tie it at 6. In the final minutes, however, Kelowna got the lead back courtesy of Rilen Kovacevic, followed up by an empty netter from Colton Dach to seal the deal for Kelowna.
Hudson Thornton and Ziemmer extended their point streaks to nine games while Wheatcroft has six goals in his last three games.
The Cougars are back at CN Centre this weekend for a Saturday night and Sunday afternoon double-header with the Vancouver Giants.
An anonymous donor has purchased 2,000 tickets for both games. Community Heroes (firefighters, paramedics, RCMP, Northern Health employees and teachers) can reserve their free tickets, on a first come, first serve basis by contacting the Prince George Cougars office by the close of business today.
The first Mega 50/50 Jackpot of the season will be drawn during Sunday’s game. The prize is a guaranteed $25,000, thanks to sponsor Wood Wheaton SuperCentre. Saturday’s game is sponsored by Coastal GasLink.
Funds raised by the 50/50 draw will go to support mental health initiatives for local first responders. Funds will be contributed to RCMP Victim Services, Fire Fighters Charitable Society and the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation.
GAME SUMMARY
Scoring
Cougars: Wheatcroft (2), Ziemmer (2), Dubinsky, Boyko
Rockets: Dach (2), Stzurc, Kydd (3), Kovacevic
Goaltending
Cougars: Tyler Brennan (L) 59:33 (7 GA 20 Saves)
Rockets: Talyn Boyko 60:00 (W) (6 GA 22 Saves)
Power-Play
Cougars: 1/7
Rockets: 2/4
Shots
Cougars: 28
Rockets: 28
