Home cooking is on order for the Prince George Cougars to start the 2022-23 season.
They will play the first four games of the new Western Hockey League season in the friendly confines of CN Centre before they head out on the road.
The Cougars host the Tri-City Americans in a two-game set (Sept. 23-24) then entertain the Kelowna Rockets (Sept. 30-Oct. 1) in another weekend doubleheader.
The Cats released their road schedule on Tuesday, which will have them boarding the bus to visit Vancouver (Oct. 7) and Everett (Oct. 8).
Their longest roadtrip is a seven-game set in January that starts Jan 10 in Kelowna. The Cougars then head east to the visit the six Central Division teams. They’ll play Jan. 13 in Lethbridge, Jan. 14 in Swift Current, Jan. 17 in Medicine Hat, Jan. 18 in Calgary, Jan. 20 in Red Deer and Jan. 21 in Edmonton.
The season wraps up with a home-and-home series against the Kamloops Blazers, Friday, March 24 in Kamloops and Saturday, March 25 in Prince George (Fan Appreciation Night).
The WHL playoffs start on March 31, 2023, followed by the Memorial Cup in Kamloops, May 26-June 5.
Draft eligible
Five Cougars are listed in NHL Central Scouting’s final draft ranking for 2022 and they could hear their names called this week at the draft in Montreal.
Cougar veteran Tyler Brennan is the top-ranked North American goalie available in the draft, while Ty Young is the sixth-ranked North American goaltending prospect. The Cougars also have three defencemen listed among the top-ranked North American skaters, including Hudson Thornton (109th), Keaton Dowhaniuk (120th) and Viliam Kmec (186th).
The first round of the draft starts Thursday at 4 p.m. PT. Rounds 2-7 will follow Friday, beginning at 8 a.m.
Prince George Cougars 2022-23 schedule
SEPTEMBER
Friday Sep 23 vs Tri City Americans (Home opener)
Saturday Sep 24 vs Tri City Americans
Friday Sep 30 vs Kelowna Rockets
OCTOBER
Saturday Oct 1 vs Kelowna Rockets
Friday Oct 7 at Vancouver Giants
Saturday Oct 8 at Everett Silvertips
Wednesday Oct 12 vs Brandon Wheat Kings
Saturday Oct 15 vs Winnipeg ICE
Friday Oct 21 at Vancouver Giants
Saturday Oct 22 at Kamloops Blazers
Wednesday Oct 26 at Kelowna Rockets
Friday Oct 28 vs Seattle Thunderbirds
Saturday Oct 29 vs Seattle Thunderbirds
NOVEMBER
Tuesday Nov 1 at Seattle Thunderbirds
Wednesday Nov 2 at Portland Winterhawks
Friday Nov 4 at Spokane Chiefs
Saturday Nov 5 at Spokane Chiefs
Wednesday Nov 9 at Kelowna Rockets
Saturday Nov 12 vs Vancouver Giants
Sunday Nov 13 vs Vancouver Giants
Friday Nov 18 at Victoria Royals
Saturday Nov 19 at Victoria Royals
Wednesday Nov 23 vs Moose Jaw Warriors
Saturday Nov 26 vs Kamloops Blazers
DECEMBER
Friday Dec 2 vs Regina Pats
Sunday Dec 4 at Vancouver Giants
Tuesday Dec 6 at Everett Silvertips
Wednesday Dec 7 at Portland Winterhawks
Friday Dec 9 at Tri-City Americans
Saturday Dec 10 at Tri-City Americans
Tuesday Dec 13 at Seattle Thunderbirds
Friday Dec 16 vs Kamloops Blazers
Saturday Dec 17 vs Kamloops Blazers (Teddy Bear Toss)
Friday Dec 30 at Kamloops Blazers
Saturday Dec 31 vs Kamloops Blazers
JANUARY
Friday Jan 6 vs Everett Silvertips
Saturday Jan 7 vs Everett Silvertips
Tuesday Jan 10 at Kelowna Rockets
Friday Jan 13 at Lethbridge Hurricanes
Saturday Jan 14 at Swift Current Broncos
Tuesday Jan 17 at Medicine Hat Tigers
Wednesday Jan 18 at Calgary Hitmen
Friday Jan 20 at Red Deer Rebels
Saturday Jan 21 at Edmonton Oil Kings
Saturday Jan 28 vs Prince Albert Raiders
FEBRUARY
Friday Feb 3 vs Victoria Royals
Saturday Feb 4 vs Victoria Royals
Tuesday Feb 7 vs Kelowna Rockets
Wednesday Feb 8 vs Kelowna Rockets
Friday Feb 10 at Kelowna Rockets
Saturday Feb 11 at Kamloops Blazers
Tuesday Feb 14 vs Saskatoon Blades
Monday Feb 20 vs Portland Winterhawks
Tuesday Feb 21 vs Portland Winterhawks
Friday Feb 24 at Vancouver Giants
Saturday Feb 25 at Victoria Royals
Tuesday Feb 28 vs Vancouver Giants
MARCH
Wednesday Mar 1 vs Vancouver Giants
Friday Mar 3 vs Spokane Chiefs
Saturday Mar 4 vs Spokane Chiefs
Friday Mar 10 at Victoria Royals
Saturday Mar 11 at Victoria Royals
Sunday Mar 12 at Vancouver Giants
Wednesday Mar 15 vs Kelowna Rockets
Friday Mar 17 vs Victoria Royals
Saturday Mar 18 vs Victoria Royals
Friday Mar 24 a Kamloops Blazers
Saturday Mar 25 vs Kamloops Blazers (Fan Appreciation Night)
