WHL Gameday Preview: Prince George Cougars @Kamloops Blazers and more

DUBNetwork Feature Game of the Night: November 15, 2019 Prince George Cougars 4-13-0-2
@ Kamloops Blazers 13-6-0-0 7:05PM (PST)
Tonight’s matchup features a battle of two teams who are going in opposite directions, as the struggling Prince George Cougars face-off with division leading Kamloops Blazers. The Cougars have really struggled this season as they own the third worst record in the entire WHL with only the Swift Current Broncos and the Regina Pats owning worse records.

With only one win in their last ten games including the last five straight games, the Cougars are looking to break out of their current misery. The Blazers on the other hand are currently leading the B.C Division
with 26 points in their first 19 games. The Blazers are currently riding a four game winning streak with their most recent victory coming this past Monday night, a 5-2 win against the 2020 Memorial Cup hosts, the Kelowna Rockets.

Josh Maser (Photo-Brian Liesse)

Specialty teams will be key in this game as Kamloops’ power play has been red hot, operating at 24.21% and even better on home ice at 26.42%. While the power play for the Cougars, has been just as cold on the road as their record as they are currently operating at 8.33% efficiency so far this season.

In all the tough times the Cougars have been through this season, one bright spot has to be the play of overage forward Josh Maser. Playing his entire WHL career so far with the Cougars, Maser has collected 14 points in 19 games so far to lead the Cougars in scoring. Last season, Maser registered his first career 30 goal season to go along with 12 assists. The 30 goals set a new career high for Maser, prior to last season his highest total was 28 which he set two seasons ago.

Another bright spot has to be the play of Chicago Blackhawks prospect Cole Moberg. Selected by the Blackhawks in the seventh round of the 2019 NHL entry draft, Moberg has 12 points in 15 games since returning to the Cougars from Blackhawks training camp and an early season ailment. Last season was a break out season for Moberg as he put up 40 points in 61 games. Moberg’s previous career high in points was 11. Moberg, like Maser, has spent his entire career with the Cougars so far. Last week the Cougars’ blue-liner had two goals and four assists in three games.

Cole Moberg (photo-Brett Cullen)

2020 NHL Draft prospect Rhett Rhinehart, like the Cougars, has had his struggles so far this season. With only eight points in 19 games, the Lloydminster, Alberta native is looking to help turn around the Cougars season.

When talking about the division leading Blazers, you have to start the conversation with forward Connor Zary. The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan native is currently leading the entire WHL in points with 30 in 19 games played. Of those 30 points, 13 of them are goals which puts the forward second in the league in that category. Like Maser and Moberg of the Cougars, Zary has spent his entire WHL career with one team. Playing in over 150 games in his career, Zary’s best season was last year when he posted 67 points in 63 games.

Connor Zary. Photo by Allen Douglas/Kamloops Blazers.

Right behind Zary in scoring is overage forward Zane Franklin. In his first season with the Blazers last year, Franklin was a point-a-game player, collecting 68 points in as many games. Just like his teammate Zary, Franklin is off to a red hot start this season. With 29 points in 19 games he is right on his teammate’s heels for the team lead.

Not to be outdone, first year Blazer Ryan Hughes is right behind them in team scoring with 25 points in 18 games. Acquired earlier in the year in a trade with the Saskatoon Blades, the overage forward has come in and added another scoring threat to an already dangerous Blazers squad. Last year, between the Portland Winterhawks and the Saskatoon Blades, the Edmonton, Alberta native posted his career high in points with 69 points in 61 games combined between the two teams.

Ryan Hughes (Photo- Portland Winterhawks/Keith Dwiggins)

The Blazers possess four of the top 11 scorers in the league this season as Orrin Centazzo has 24 points entering tonight’s game. These four players have helped the Blazers to have the fifth best record in the entire league. Zary is questionable for this game, as he was busy last night representing the Blazers playing for team WHL at the 2019 Canada/Russia Series in Prince Albert, Saskatchewan.

Expected in goal:
Taylor Gauthier (Prince George) – Gauthier, in his third season, is coming off a season where he posted 15 wins in 55 appearances. He also finished with a 3.25 GAA and a .899 SAV%. The Calgary, Alberta native has seen the bulk of the work for the Cougars this season, appearing in 15 of 19 games. The Cougars first round draft pick in 2016 has just two wins in those 15 games and a 3.26 GAA and a .894 SAV%.

Taylor Gauthier (Doug Westcott)

Dylan Garand (Kamloops) – Garand is in his second full season, last year he appeared in 27 games, winning 11. Garand posted a 2.94 GAA and a .902 SAV% in those games. He was also the winning goalie in the 2019 tie-break game vs the Kelowna Rockets. This season, Garand has appeared in 17 games; winning 12 and posting a 2.21 GAA and a .928 SAV% with one shut out.

Also in action:

Medicine Hat Tigers @Red Deer Rebels 7pm MST

Brett Kemp of the Tigers has his eyes set on tying the WHL season long for a point streak at 13 games.

Brett Kemp (Photo: Portland Winterhawks/Pat Kempany)

Spokane Chiefs @Portland Winterhawks 7pm PST

-Both teams have tough three-in-three game sets this weekend with the Winterhawks taking on Seattle and Winnipeg after this one and the Chiefs battling Tri-City and Everett. All three for Spokane are away from home, where they are 3-1-1-0 so far.

Lethbridge Hurricanes @Victoria Royals 7:05pm PST

Oliver Okuliar is right behind Kemp with an active point streak of 11 games currently. This is the first of a three game trip as they also take on Vancouver and Swift Current before returning home.