BY COLE WALDIE
Prince George Cougars
A historic night for the Prince George Cougars as they clinch their 46th victory of the season in emphatic fashion. The Cougars soared to a commanding 10-4 victory over the Victoria Royals at the Save on Foods Memorial Centre on Saturday.
With this triumph, the Cougars etch their name in the annals of their 30-year history, marking this season as their most successful yet. Not only did they secure their 46th win, but they also shattered their previous record for most goals scored in a single season, now standing proudly at 296. This feat eclipses the previous mark of 290 set by the 2022-2023 squad. Additionally, Zac Funk leaves an indelible mark on Cougar history by surpassing the team’s single-season point record, overtaking Quinn Hancock’s 112 points in the 1997-98 season.
The Royals struck first at 6:21, but the Cougars swiftly asserted their dominance. Terik Parascak knotted the game at 7:16, followed by Carlin Dezainde’s go-ahead goal at 10:01. Parascak struck again, shorthanded, at 18:52, giving the Cougars a 3-1 lead after the opening period, during which Prince George limited the Royals to just two shots.
The second period saw the floodgates burst open, led by a record-breaking goal from Zac Funk just 54 seconds in. Borya Valis and Ondrej Becher added to the onslaught, netting two goals in under two minutes to extend the lead to 6-1. Although Victoria responded at 5:16, Aiden Foster widened the gap with his second goal of the year at 7:14. Despite two late goals from the Royals, the Cougars remained in control with a 7-4 lead after two periods.
The final period showcased the Cougars’ relentless offensive prowess. Becher wasted no time, scoring his second goal just 27 seconds in, followed by a short-handed tally from Valis at 2:38 to notch the ninth goal of the game for Prince George. Becher completed his first career hat-trick at 5:10, courtesy of a stellar assist from Funk, sealing a resounding 10-4 victory for the Cougars.