The first time south of the border this season for the Prince George Cougars also turned out to be the first regulation loss for the team as they fell 4-2 to the Wenatchee Wild yesterday. (Sunday)
“I think the first period wasn’t great, you take three penalties to start the first, and right off the bat, you’re killing obviously too many guys that play a lot of minutes,” said Assistant Coach Carter Rigby on last night’s post-game show on 94.3 the Goat.
The Cougars found themselves in the box seven times throughout the game, including a five-on-three within the first three minutes of the game.
The Wild got their 2,498 fans at the Town Toyota Center into the game early with two powerplay goals in the opening frame.
“I thought the second we came out with a little bit of push to start, it was an in-and-out game at the end of the third there, lots of chances, started to pick it up, but just a very inconsistent effort by the whole group, top to bottom,” Rigby said.
Jett Lajoie scored both goals for the Cougars, potting a pair of rebounds.
Lajoie had 6 goals in 60 games in 2023-24. He has 3 goals in 4 games so far this year 🤯@CarlsJrCA https://t.co/UH44rbzyae pic.twitter.com/JHLyFO8ZSq
— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) September 29, 2024
“He’s hard nosed, he’s moving his feet and he’s physical, he has that high-end skill as well that helps him out in tight” Rigby said.
Cooper Michaluk made his Cougars debut in net, stopping 27 shots.
“I thought he tracked pucks well, he moves the puck very well back there,” Rigby said.
“It’s nice to know we’ve got someone we can rely on, not that we didn’t with [Holtvogt] by any means, but just an older veteran guy there to help Josh and push Josh along too.”
Rigby added the older group with the team needs to step up in the absence of some the team’s players still at NHL camps.
“I don’t think there’s enough vocal leadership on and off the ice and the bench and the room right now with our group,” Rigby said.
“This is what we have, we need to learn that the 20 guys that we go out there with, that’s who we have, we’re not looking for Riley, we’re not looking for other guys, it’s your turn to take charge, and work out there and be a unit as one group of 20.”
The full box score is here.
Four games into the season, the Cougars have started 2-1-1-0, and are sitting fourth in the Western Conference.
The full WHL standings can be found here.
The Cougars are back in action on Wednesday, continuing their five-game road trip with a matchup against the winless Kelowna Rockets.
The full Cougars schedule is here.
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