Image courtesy: WHL

By CKPG Today with files from the WHL

WHL

Six Cougars earn WHL all-star nods

Mar 27, 2024 | 6:06 AM

CALGARY — The Prince George Cougars figured prominently in WHL all-star awards for the 2023-2024 season.

Three Cats were named first team all-stars. Those players include 20-year-old forward Zac Funk who led the league in scoring with 123 points, including a league leading 67 goals. The outstanding campaign from the 6-foot, 210-pound product of Coldstream, B.C., earned him a free agent contract with the Washington Capitals on March 1, 2024.

Nineteen-year-old forward Riley Heidt was also named a first team all-star after finishing third in WHL scoring with 117 points (37G-80A) in 66 games. Heidt’s 80 helpers were second best in the WHL. From October 11 through November 27, 2023, Heidt strung together a point streak of 16 games, registering 33 points (8G-25A) along the way. Heidt signed an entry-level contract with the Minnesota Wild last week.

Twenty-year-old defenseman Hudson Thornton was the last Cat to earn a first team all-star nod after finishing fourth in WHL scoring for defenseman with 74 points. Originally selected by the Cougars in the second round (33rd overall) of the 2018 WHL Draft, Thornton has recorded 196 points (56G-140A) in 207 career WHL regular season games.

Image courtesy WHL

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Three Cougars received second team all-star nods including 17-year-old rookie Terik Parascak who led all rookies in scoring with 105 points – including 43 goals and 62 assists. Parascak was named Kal Tire WHL Rookie of the Week on an impressive five occasions this season, including most recently on March 11, 2024. He was also named Tempo WHL Player of the Week on March 18, 2024.

Seventeen-year-old rookie goalie Joshua Ravensbergen picked up a second team all-star nod after recording six shutouts. Ravensbergen went 26-4-1-1 with a 2.46 goals-against average and .907 save percentage in 38 appearances this season. He was named Kal Tire WHL Rookie of the Week on December 4, 2023, and also earned back-to-back Giuseppe WHL Goaltender of the Week honours on October 30 and November 6, 2023.

Twenty-year-old Viliam Kmec was also named a second team all-star after notching 34 points (9G-25A) and an impressive plus-39 rating in 58 games. Originally selected by the Cougars in the second round (104th overall) of the 2021 CHL Import Draft, Kmec has been a mainstay on the Prince George blueline, appearing in 180 games and posting 80 points (18G-62A) since 2021-22.