BY COLE WALDIE
Prince George Cougars
The Prince George Cougars concluded 2023 on a high note with a 4-1 victory over the Kamloops Blazers on Saturday at the Sandman Centre.
Goaltender Ty Young delivered another stellar performance, making 33 saves to secure the win. Offensive standout Riley Heidt led the charge with two goals and one assist.
The game began with the Blazers capitalizing on a Cougar turnover, as Kai Matthew scored at 2:17 to give Kamloops an early 1-0 lead. However, the Cougars swiftly responded with a power-play goal from Carlin Dezainde at 12:35, followed by a rebound goal by Jett Lajoie just 55 seconds later. The first period also featured a heated exchange between Hunter Laing and Sam Borschowa, with the Cats leading 2-1 after 20 minutes.
Riley Heidt continued to showcase his offensive talent, scoring a highlight-reel goal to extend the Cougars’ lead to 3-1. Ty Young’s exceptional goaltending, including a crucial pad save on a Blazer 2-on-1, helped maintain Prince George’s advantage.
In the final period, the Cougars had a 5-on-3 power play early on but were unable to convert. Ty Young’s outstanding saves, particularly during a Blazer power play, solidified the 4-1 victory. Heidt sealed the deal with an empty-net goal in the closing minutes.
With the win, the Prince George Cougars improve their season record to 26-10-0-0, including an outstanding 13-4-0-0 on the road. Looking ahead, the Cats will face a challenging stretch of four games in five nights, commencing on Wednesday, January 3rd, against the Wenatchee Wild at the Town Toyota Centre in Wenatchee.