The Prince George Cougars can’t seem to avoid heartbreak when they play the Portland Winterhawks, as they fall 4-3 in overtime.
Diego Buttazoni was the overtime hero for Portland, sending the 3,153 fans at the CN Centre home stunned.
Deked out in OT. Diego Buttazzoni really just did that. pic.twitter.com/QBimJqmaCQ
— Portland Winterhawks (@pdxwinterhawks) October 9, 2024
“I think we were lucky to get a point, so we’ll take that point,” said Cougars Head Coach and GM Mark Lamb on the post-game show on 94.3 the Goat.
“We didn’t have a lot going, we got up 2-0, but I didn’t even think our game was that good then, we weren’t moving the puck, there was a lot of things that we looked very sluggish, not a very good game for us.”
Portland scored twice in a 45-second span in the second period to help the Winterhawks seize momentum and keep it for the rest of the game.
A returning Koehn Ziemmer was a bright spot for the Cougars, opening the scoring in the first minute, and tying the game in the final minute.
WELCOME HOME KOEHN ZIEMMER.@LAKings | @CarlsJrCA https://t.co/hjtHEPF8io pic.twitter.com/Q0RjzvdEXd
— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) October 9, 2024
Ziemmer also added a helper on Hunter Laing’s fourth goal of the year.
Unfortunately, Ziemmer’s return to Prince George meant a trade needed to be made as he was the fourth over-age player on the team.
“It’s a tough day for a lot of guys in the room,” Lamb said.
‘We got a lot of stuff going on on the business side with making trades and stuff like that, and I think that had a lot to do with it.”
Carlin Dezainde was traded earlier in the day, which Lamb thought had an impact on the game.
“I’ve been around for a while, I’m not used to this, I don’t like that at all, especially when you’re getting rid of a good person that’s really grown right under you,” Lamb said.
“You get tight to these players, just like they get tight to you, and you go through battles together. It was a terrible day.”
The box score is here.
With the point, the Cougars (4-2-2-0) are on top of the WHL’s BC Division.
The full WHL standings are here.
Something going on in the Prince George area you think people should know about?
Send us a news tip by emailing [email protected].
