Cranbrook, BC – The Prince George Cougars scored 5 goals on 17 shots in a 5-4 win over the Kootenay ICE in WHL action on Wednesday night.
The ICE have lost 3 games in a row.
The Cougars (5-1-1-0) scored on their shot on goal on a 4-on-2 break with defenseman Travis Ehrhardt getting his first of the year with a shot high on the glove side.
Cougars forward Colin Jacobs made it 2-0 in a breakaway and he scored with a forehand deke.
Kootenay (1-5-0-0) scored late in the period on a powerplay on a goal mouth scramble and 16-year-old Kyle O’Connor getting his 1st career goal.
Early in the second period the ICE gave up the puck in the slot to a wide open Caleb Belter who made it 3-1 with a wrist shot high on the glove side.
The ICE got within a goal off a face-off win in the Cougars zone and Eric Benoit bounced a low shot over the goalies’ pad for his 2nd of the year.
The ICE tied the game as Collin Shirley got his 1st career goal on a deflection of a Matthew Thomas point shot that went through the goalies’ legs. It was Thomas 1st career point.
Late in the period again gave away the puck in the slot to a wide open Brett Roulston who got his 1st career goal with a wrist shot through the goalies’ legs.
The ICE changed changed goalies at the start of the 3rd period with Wyatt Hoflin replacing Mackenzie Skapski.
Early in the period Joey Leach tied the game with a shot from the half-boards into the net as the goalie was scrambling back into the crease and didn’t get there in time to make the save.
The Cougars got the game winner with Jari Erricson pouncing on the puck in the slot and slapped it through the goalies legs.
The ICE were unsuccessful on 5-minute powerplay with Zach Pachiro receiving a major penalty for a check from behind.
The crowd was the smallest in ICE history at Western Financial Place (formerly the Rec-Plex).
The ICE will host Saskatoon on Friday.
Prince George Coach Dean Clark reminisced on his Hitmen vs McGill’s ICE 10-12 years ago.
“Ryan did a great job with this team and franchise. When I was in Calgary we both had young franchises at the time. We won the one year and they beat us the next. It was a good rivalry with the games at the old Memorial Arena, those are good memories. It was always competitive.”
“When I heard he got back into it I phoned him right away and welcomed him back. I’m happy for him, I know’s he’s doing what he should be doing.”
ICE Scratches – Jon Martin (game 2 of 3 game league suspension), Mike Simpson.
Game Summary
Prince George 5-1-1-0 Kootenay 1-5-0-0
1st Period-
1, Prince George, Ehrhardt 1 (Siwak, Erricson), 1:10.
2, Prince George, Jacobs 7 6:29.
3, Kootenay, O'Connor 1 (Muth, Philp), 18:40 (PP). Penalties-Lishchynsky P.g (major-fighting), 11:42; Montgomery Ktn (instigator, major-fighting, 10-minute misconduct), 11:42; Bourke P.g (hooking), 16:54.
2nd Period-
4, Prince George, Belter 3 3:34.
5, Kootenay, Benoit 2 (Philp, Descheneau), 5:56.
6, Kootenay, Shirley 1 (Thomas, Leach), 11:40. 7, Prince George, Roulston 1 17:20. Penalties-Gibb P.g (major-fighting), 5:34; Wand Ktn (major-fighting), 5:34; Shirley Ktn (interference), 7:16; Ehrhardt P.g (unsportsmanlike cnd.), 17:42.
3rd Period-
8, Kootenay, Leach 1 2:49.
9, Prince George, Erricson 1 10:39.
Penalties-Hubic Ktn (boarding), 7:40; Pochiro P.g (roughing, roughing, major-check/behind, 10-minute misconduct), 11:38; Czerwonka Ktn (roughing, roughing), 11:38; served by P.g (bench), 18:56.
Shots on Goal-Prince George 7-4-6-17. Kootenay 11-17-12-40.
Power Play Opportunities-Prince George 0 / 4; Kootenay 1 / 4.
Goalies-Prince George, Zarowny 4-1-0-0 (40 shots-36 saves). Kootenay, Skapski 1-2-0-0 (11 shots-7 saves); Hoflin 0-3-0-0 (6 shots-5 saves).
A-2,135
Referees-Fraser Lawrence (10), Jon Stephenson (38).
Linesmen-Michael Boisvert (111), Ian Shaver (74).