The sound of the Cougars’ goal horn was still echoing in the heads of 2521 fans as the clock turned over into the new year.
Nine goal scorers netted ten goals for the Cougars last night, breaking their losing streak in an emphatic way.
The BC division-leading Blazers came in to the game missing five of their top forwards, either to the world juniors or to injury, and they started backup goalie Michael Schnattinger who only has 1 win in 9 games played.
The Cougars took full advantage of the shorthanded squad, and did not let up until the final buzzer.
Ethan Samson, fresh off an NHL contract, got things started at 4:33 with a point shot.
Kamloops would strike back with two quick ones, both before the halfway mark of the period.
However, the Cougars blue line would retake the lead 3-2 before the intermission with goals from Hudson Thornton, and Ethan Samson again.
Like we said @NHLFlyers fans, REALLY GOOD SAMMY SIGNING 💣 https://t.co/pe8wN478sI pic.twitter.com/zaeCTXgK4Y
— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) January 1, 2023
Prince George would score another three in the second period, from Bauer Dumanski, Carlin Dezainde, and Riley Heidt.
The Blazers got one in the period from Daylan Kuefler, 6-3 after 2.
Tyler Brennan was pulled after Kamloops’ third goal, even though his team was winning 4-3 at that point. Kamloops pulled Schnattinger in the intermission after he allowed 6 goals on 22 shots.
The Dean of Deflection (😉 @TheWHL admin) https://t.co/N0WIN5tXaw pic.twitter.com/VQuO3pTM76
— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) January 1, 2023
The Blazers bringing in Dylan Ernst, who had won 14 straight games, did not shake the Cougars one bit.
In fact, the game began to spiral even farther out of control – seven goals were scored in the third period.
Chase Wheatcroft got things started early at 5:13 with his league-leading 15th powerplay goal, and 23rd goal of the season.
Kamloops would make the game 7-5 with two quick goals at 8:44 and 9:22 on a Blake Eastman double minor penalty.
Jaxsen Wiebe, Blake Eastman, and Keaton Dowhaniuk then all scored within two minutes to increase the lead to a whopping 10-5.
Kamloops’ Connor Levis scored the games 16th goal at 17:38, leaving the final score 10-6 Prince George.
GOODNIGHT 2022#ForTheNorth . #WHL pic.twitter.com/pIYMTP07Gl
— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) January 1, 2023
Only three Cougars did not have a point, but no Cougar had more than three in the game.
Because Kamloops got to 6 goals, the total the Cougars had when Ernst came into play for the Blazers, Ernst has been credited with the loss which ends his winning streak at 14 games.
This ends the Cougars 8 game losing streak (0-5-3-0), and improves their record to 15-16-3-0, tied for 6th place ion the west with Everett and one point behind both Tri City and Vancouver for 4th.
Kamloops record falls to 21-7-3-2, still sitting comfortably in third in the west and first in BC.
Kamloops outshot Prince George 35-33.
The Cougars were 3/3 on the powerplay, Kamloops was 3/5 on the powerplay.
The Cougars play again next weekend in a home doubleheader against the Everett Silvertips, two very important games in the west standings.
You can find the game’s box score here.
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