Sports by Hartley Friday, April 25th, 2025
(As of 12:05 a.m. All times listed are PDT)
BCHL:
The Prince George Spruce Kings have taken away the ‘interim’ tag and have named Brad Tesink as the team’s next Head Coach.
Tesink became the team’s Interim Head Coach in November, and led the team to 17-13-2-1 record and a playoff spot where they lost to the Chilliwack Chiefs in seven games.
In addition, Brandon Manning was promoted to Assistant Coach and Director of Hockey Camps.
Manning served as the team’s Skills and Development Coach for the last two seasons.
The Prince George Spruce Kings are pleased to announce Brad Tesink has been named Head Coach.
Brandon Manning has also been promoted to Assistant Coach and Director of Hockey Camps.
DETAILS: https://t.co/GjYAjDWg3R pic.twitter.com/VRH2jMVfeA
— Prince George Spruce Kings (@SpruceKings) April 24, 2025
WHL:
The WHL Conference Finals begin tonight (Friday).
In the West, Portland visits Spokane and in the East, Lethbridge is at Medicine Hat.
17-year-old forward Chase Herrington of Prince George plays with Spokane.
The WHL playoff schedule and results can be found here.
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The Prince George Cougars have been handing out their individual team awards this week for the 2024-25 regular season.
The Cougars will today (Friday) announce the winner of the Dan Hamhuis Award which goes to the team MVP.
Viliam Kmec (61 points and a plus-43 rating) captured the Eric Brewer Award as the team’s Defenceman of the Year.
What a 20-year-old campaign it was. A career high in goals, points, assists, and plus/minus.
The Eric Brewer Award for Defenceman of the Year is Viliam Kmec!@GoldenKnights • #ForTheNorth pic.twitter.com/T73R341g1x
— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) April 24, 2025
Defenceman Carson Carels (35 points in 60 games) was named winner of the Brett Connolly Rookie of the Year Award.
He collected 35 points in 60 games from the blue-line in his first year in the Western Hockey League.
This year’s Brett Connolly Rookie of the Year award goes to #4 Carson Carels! 🏆 pic.twitter.com/59z0FL2gVL
— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) April 24, 2025
Captain Riley Heidt has won three awards; for most Offensive Player, most Three Star selections and the player who best represents the Cougars both on and off the ice.
Forward Matteo Danis captured the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation Humanitarian Award which goes to the player who makes significant contributions within the community through various programs and initiatives.
Sniper Borya Valis is the winner of the fan favourite Dorothy Johnson Memorial Award which goes to the player that received the most votes in a poll conducted on the Cougars’ website.
Forward Lee Shurgot was named the winner of the Dr. Jeff Zorn Award for Academic Excellence.
The Western Hockey League announced today the rules and regulations for the 2025 WHL Expansion Draft.
📝 | https://t.co/m990YsElLQ@PentictonVees | #WHLDraft pic.twitter.com/bWui3HSKAq
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) April 24, 2025
Cat Scan podcast:
CAT SCAN: @Hartley_Miller chats with @PGCougars head coach and general manager Mark Lamb on the season-ending episode of the podcast
| https://t.co/OM4i4XLYBo #cityofpg #PrinceGeorge #northernbc #sports— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) April 14, 2025
NHL: (4 Thursday Stanley Cup playoff games)
Toronto 3 Ottawa 2 (OT-The Leafs lead the best-of-7 series 3-0)
(Simon Benoit scored at 1:19 of overtime)
St. Louis 7 Winnipeg 2 (The Jets lead 2-1)
Minnesota 5 Vegas 2 (The Wild lead 2-1)
Florida 2 Tampa Bay 0 (The Panthers lead 2-0)
There are 3 Stanley Cup playoff games tonight (Friday): LA at Edmonton (7:00), Washington at Montreal (4:00), and Carolina at New Jersey (5:00).
The Kings, Capitals and Hurricanes all lead their best-of-7 first round series 2-0.
The NHL playoff schedule and results are here or here.