Cougars fall to Rockets in wild finish

For the first time since January 20th’s 2-1 loss to the Portland Winterhawks, the Prince George Cougars have lost in regulation at the CN Centre.

The Cougars dropped a 5-4 decision to the Kelowna Rockets last night. (Saturday)

While it may not have been the result they wanted, the 4,172 fans at the CN Centre were treated to another wild finish.

With the game tied late in the third, Koehn Ziemmer scored his 19th of the year at the 16:56 mark to give the Cats a 4-3 lead.

Make that goals in 7⃣ straight for Ziems@PGCougars | @LAKings | #GoKingsGo pic.twitter.com/ag17mpNfUg

— The WHL (@TheWHL) November 17, 2024

Michael Cicek tied it with just 90 seconds to go in the third, and Washington Capitals prospect Andrew Cristall scored the game winner just 28 seconds later.

AC28 IN THE CLUTCH 🔥@Kelowna_Rockets | @Capitals | #ALLCAPS pic.twitter.com/KCxHmmXWoH

— The WHL (@TheWHL) November 17, 2024

“They controlled the game,” said Cougars Head Coach and GM Mark Lamb on the post-game show on 94.3 the Goat.

“The disappointing part is you get it tied up and you get ahead, and then you can’t lock it down, that’s the only thing that was disappointing, other than that, they controlled the whole game.”

The Rockets outshot the Cougars by a 31-18 margin, the lowest number of shots the Cougars have mustered all year.

The Cougars were once again without captain Riley Heidt, who is nursing an upper body injury sustained last weekend, as well as emerging star Jett Lajoie.

“We’ll get some rest, we’ll take tomorrow off and we’ll have a good week of practice,” Lamb said.

“We got more bumps and bruises than the guys that are out too, so we need some rest and we need to take care of some bumps and bruises.”

Borya Valis scored twice, while Hunter Laing added a single for the Cougars.

The big man scores a big goal!@NHLFlames | @CarlsJrCA https://t.co/tLzTWB1XJn pic.twitter.com/ebjxk8E5Iy

— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) November 17, 2024

The box score is here.

The Cougars (12-5-3-2) remain on top of the WHL’s BC Division and are second in the Western Conference.

The WHL standings are here.

The Cougars are back at home Friday when they host the Kamloops Blazers.

The full Cougars schedule is here.