BY COLE WALDIE
Prince George Cougars
The Prince George Cougars roared back into the victory column with a commanding 8-1 triumph over the Seattle Thunderbirds on Monday, delighting a crowd of 6,027 at the CN Centre.
Displaying an impressive team effort, the Cougars showcased scoring prowess with contributions from 14 different skaters. Joshua Ravensbergen secured his 20th win of the season, making 25 saves.
The scoring spectacle commenced early for the Cougars, as Borya Valis notched his 19th goal of the season at 1:12, setting the tone for the game. Bauer Dumanski extended the lead to 2-0 with a precise point shot at 10:18. The Cats dominated the first period, outshooting the Thunderbirds 14-10.
The second period witnessed an onslaught from the Cats, as Carlin Dezainde opened the scoring at 6:44 with his 20th goal of the season. Riley Heidt added a power-play goal at 8:53, propelling the lead to 4-0. Jett Lajoie (10:31), Ondrej Becher (11:17), Heidt once again (16:45), and Hudson Thornton (18:59) all found the back of the net, establishing an impressive 8-0 lead after two periods.
In the third period, the Thunderbirds spoiled Josh Ravensbergen’s shutout bid, with Braeden Cootes netting the lone goal for Seattle at 18:08.
Following this victory, the Cougars’ record improves to 37-15-0-3. Tomorrow night, they have an opportunity to claim the top spot in the Western Conference as they face the Thunderbirds once again at the CN Centre. Puck drop is scheduled for 7:00 pm.
Additionally, the Mega 50/50 jackpot for today’s game has already been claimed, with the prize exceeding an impressive take-home amount of 71,000 dollars. Half of the final amount go towards the BC Cancer Foundation.