For the second year in a row, it’s the rookie scoring the teddy bear goal as the Prince George Cougars picked up the 6-3 win over the Kamloops Blazers on Teddy Bear Toss night.
Carson Carels sent the bears flying 15:28 into the first period with the Cats on a two-man advantage.
CARSON CHRISTMAS CARELS BRINGS THE BEARS@CarlsJrCA https://t.co/47F8OrUJmC pic.twitter.com/oFzAhhphAK
— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) December 8, 2024
Viliam Kmec is usually the defenceman on the first powerplay unit.
“We wanted a left-hand shot on the powerplay, it had nothing to do with the ability or anything like that,” said Cougars Head Coach and GM Mark Lamb on the post game show on 94.3 the Goat.
“We have a few different plays 5-on-3, we just needed a left-handed shot there and it worked.”
It was all Kamloops prior to Carels scoring the teddy bear goal, as they opened the scoring just 24 seconds into the game, and added another 7:44 in.
“We started off a little slow and then we found our game,” Lamb said.
“That’s the Cougar team that we’re used to seeing, the last couple periods, we were skating, we had a lot of good opportunities, their goalie was really good there for a while, we had some grade a scoring chances, he made some big saves and we just stuck with it.”
Despite letting in six goals, Logan Edmonstone played a strong game in the Kamloops net, making 39 saves on 45 shots.
It was a big night for Hunter Laing, who potted a pair of goals and added an assist.
“The points are coming because of the way he’s played and the way he’s practiced, and the way he’s dedicated the last few weeks” Lamb said.
“He’s been skating very well, even though our team hasn’t been playing that well, he’s one of the guys that’s really picked it up.”
For the fourth time this season, Koehn Ziemmer scored the Cougars fifth goal to send the 6,016 fans at the CN Centre home with a free pizza.
The fans came with bears, they leave with pizza!
For the FOURTH time this season, Koehn Ziemmer scores the pizza goal!!@LAKings | @CarlsJrCA https://t.co/chBkxpD0rx pic.twitter.com/eYwD8pJavS
— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) December 8, 2024
Aiden Foster also scored his second goal of the season in the second, and Riley Heidt tacked one on for good measure late in the third.
Josh Ravensbergen made 25 saves, and with the win, became the sixth fastest goaltender to reach 40 wins in the WHL’s Internet Era.
The box score is here.
With the win, the Cougars (15-8-3-2) are back on top of the BC Division and are second in the Western Conference.
The WHL standings are here.
The Cougars are back on the road to close out 2024, starting with a Wednesday tilt in Kennewick, Washington against the Tri-City Americans.
The full Cougars schedule is here.
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