Riley Heidt and Terik Parascak are back with the Prince George Cougars, and they’re back in a big way.
The duo combined for six points as the Cats picked up a 5-2 win over the Kelowna Rockets in front of 3,427 fans at Prospera Place.
Heidt and Parascak were both were returned to the Cougars from their respective NHL Clubs this week.
“It puts everybody else in a better position in the lineup to be better players,” said Associate Coach Jim Playfair on the post-game show on 94.3 the Goat.
“I think what we saw for a while during training camp and some of our earlier games in the season is players are playing too far up the lineup, and I think that’s good when they’re trying to push and grow their game, but it’s not good when you’re trying roll four lines and be a good, consistent team.”
Heidt, who was named the 30th captain in team history, opened the scoring with Parascak and Borya Valis picking up the assists.
The first of many for Captain Riley 😁@mnwild | @Capitals | @CarlsJrCA https://t.co/xpfUoFGC2J pic.twitter.com/ftAExp1uWW
— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) October 3, 2024
Heidt returned the favour to Parascak twice, with Parascak finishing off an early goal of the year candidate.
Cougars fans 🤝 @mnwild fans 🤝@Capitals fans
WHAT DID WE JUST WATCH@CarlsJrCA https://t.co/60iy5N3oLO pic.twitter.com/Nm9PlLpME4
— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) October 3, 2024
Carlin Dezainde scored the eventual game winner, while Matteo Danis put the game on ice with an empty-netter.
BREAKING: the Cats are rolling.@CarlsJrCA https://t.co/TitS7rtxaB pic.twitter.com/RLg3cRSvg8
— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) October 3, 2024
Tij Iginla and Michael Cicek found the back of the net for the Rockets.
It was a clean game for both teams, the Rockets only went to the box twice, and the Cougars did not find themselves shorthanded once.
“We’ve given up four goals in the last two games, so our penalty kill was under siege,” Playfair said.
“By not taking any we didn’t have to go to work on it.”
Josh Ravensbergen made 27 saves as the Rockets outshot the Cougars 29-26.
The full box score can be found here.
With the win, the Cougars (3-1-1-0) move into the third in the Western Conference, while the Rockets are still winless on the season.
The WHL standings can be found here.
The Cougars are back in action Friday, as they head south of the border to take on the Seattle Thunderbirds.
The full Cougars schedule can be found here.
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