Loss in overtime

Victoria finds the win column in 3-2 overtime victory over PG

Apr 6, 2021 | 9:27 PM

KAMLOOPS, BC – Both the Prince George Cougars and Victoria Royals had to go back-to-back games requiring extra time after the pair tied 2-2 after regulation, with the Royals finally finding the win column after five games.

Coming off of a tough and rare 1-0 shootout loss to the Vancouver Giants on Sunday, the Cougars were looking to bounce back Tuesday night against the Royals.

In the first period, both goalies looked to be on their game as the scoreboard was kept at zeros. The busier of the two, Connor Martin, turned away all 15 shots he faced from the Cougars.

The Royals brought an end to the shutout streak of Tyler Brennan, which reached over 87 minutes. Brayden Tracey found the marker on the powerplay 5:01 into the second frame. The goal also marked a milestone for Tracey, registering as his 150th career WHL point.

Nearing the 14-minute mark of the period, 17-year-old Gannon Laroque found his first goal since entering the WHL to extend the Royals lead. Tarun Fizer and Tracey both assisting on the play as the Royals took a 2-0 lead.

The ice opening up afterwards as both teams exchanged a series of opportunities, but it was Jonny Hooker on the doorstep to give the Cougars their first point of the game. The 19-year-old parking himself to the right of the net, pouncing on a rebound after a shot from Koehn Ziemmer.

After a scoreless opening period, the back-and-forth play made for some quick hockey in the second period as the Royals took a 2-1 lead heading into the third period.

The third period got underway with much of the Cougars bench tapping their sticks along the boards in an effort to initiate a rally inside the otherwise quiet Sandman Centre.

1:14 into the period, Jonny Hooker found the back of the net for the second time of the game with both his second of the game and season to bring the game even at 2-2. Like his first, Ethan Browne was there to assist on Hooker’s goal.

For the second straight game for both the Royals and Cougars, the game would need an extra frame as the game went undecided through regulation.

In overtime, the Royals were unable to take advantage of a napping Cougars’ blueline as a pair of breakaway attempts still couldn’t find the back of the net with Brennan standing tall in the crease for PG.

Following a timeout call by Victoria, Tracey caught Brennan with his skate off the post as the Royals’ forward completed the wrap-around tally to win the game, giving Victoria their first tick in the win column this season.

Prince George will have a series of days off before they return to the ice at the Sandman Centre in Kamloops. They’ll face off against the Vancouver Giants on Saturday (April 10) at 7:00 p.m.