In a return to winning form, the Prince George Cougars claimed a hard-fought victory on Saturday, Oct. 12, defeating the Prince Albert Raiders 5-4 at the CN Centre.
Captain Riley Heidt led the charge for the Cougars with a hat trick, while teammates Bauer Dumanski and Jett Lajoie each added one. Goaltender Josh Ravensbergen earned his fifth win of the season, making 15 saves on 19 shots.
The action-packed game began with the Raiders striking first. Doogan Pederson netted the opening goal at 5:00 in the first period, capitalizing on a Cougar turnover with assists from Brayden Dube and Luke Moroz. The Cougars quickly answered, with Heidt showcasing his skill on a breakaway to tie the game at 7:07, thanks to a brilliant pass from Viliam Kmec.
The second period saw the Raiders regain the lead early with Aiden Oiring’s goal at 2:42. However, the Cougars responded shortly after, with Borya Valis scoring on a 2-on-1 play, assisted by Jett Lajoie, leveling the score at 2-2. Heidt then put Prince George ahead with a power-play goal at 8:10, making it 3-2, but the Raiders fought back, equalizing once again with Niall Crocker’s power-play goal at 14:01.
Heidt was not done yet, netting his third goal on another power play at 18:06, putting the Cougars ahead 4-3 before the period ended.
In the final frame, the Cougars extended their lead to 5-3 when Dumanski scored shorthanded at 5:29. The Raiders rallied with Brayden Dube finding the net at 13:01, narrowing the gap to just one goal. Despite a late push, the Cougars held firm to secure the win.
With the victory, the Cougars showcased their resilience and teamwork, setting a positive tone as they continue their season.
