Koehn Ziemmer and the Prince George Cougars (20-32-2-1) had a night to remember. Ziemmer scored four times as the Cougars walloped the Victoria Royals 9-1 on Saturday night at the CN Centre.
For Ziemmer it was not only his first career WHL hat-trick but also his first career WHL four-goal game. Ziemmer’s natural hat-trick came over a span of four minutes in the first period, as he extended his goal-scoring streak to four games.
Craig Armstrong also had four points on Saturday, as he had a goal and three assists in the win. Riley Heidt and Hudson Thornton each had three points Saturday’s victory. In total, 10 Cougars recorded at least a single point in the win. Ty Young was sharp in the Cougars’ crease, as he turned aside 20 of 21 shots for his second win.
Jonny Hooker, Ethan Samson, Ryker Singer, and Hudson Thornton also scored in Saturday’s drubbing. Hooker scored the team’s second shorthanded goal of the season in the second period. The Cougars were a perfect 3-3 on the penalty kill and 2-6 on the power play.
The nine goals scored is a season high for Prince George, as is the 57 shots they fired at the Victoria net.
The Royals opened the scoring nine minutes into the first period on a Riley Gannon goal, before Ziemmer rattled off three goals in just over four minutes, as the Cougars led 3-1 through 20 minutes. Ziemmer and Hooker scored in the middle frame as Prince George led 5-1 after two periods. The Cougars tacked on four more goals in the final frame.
Prince George is now 8-1-0-0 against the Royals this season and Saturday was their first win at home since January 19th.
GAME NOTES
Koehn Ziemmer has seven goals and nine points in his last five games. Hudson Thornton and Ethan Samson extended their point streaks to seven games in the win. Thornton has 10 points (4g-6a) in his last seven. Samson has eight points (3g-5a). Armstrong’s goal was his first since December 17, 2021.