Preston Lewis celebrates after stopping Nathan Behm's shootout attempt on Dec. 12, 2025. (Image Credit: James Doyle)

By Victor Kaisar

Cougars 5 Blazers 4 SO

WHL debutant Lewis backstops Cougars to shootout win over Blazers

Dec 13, 2025 | 8:31 AM

PRINCE GEORGE — Preston Lewis stopped 23 of 27 shots in his WHL debut as the Prince George Cougars knocked off the Kamloops Blazers 5-4 in a shootout to pick up their sixth consecutive win at the CN Centre Friday (Dec. 12) night.

The 19-year-old from Salmon Arm was called up from the Devon Xtreme in the AJHL and thrust into action as the Cougars top two goaltenders – Joshua Ravensbergen and Alex Levyshyn – are away with the Canadian and Ukrainian junior team respectively.

Cougars defenceman Carson Carels is also away at Canadian World Junior training camp, while forwards Terik Parascak and Jett Lajoie were also held out of the lineup Friday.

Kayden Lemire opened the scoring for PG at 7:25 of the first period. His goal was the first of three scored in a span of 2:49 as Bauer Dumanski and Brock Souch (shorthanded) had the home team up 3-0 after one period.

Bauer on the trail? DEADLY.@CarlsJrCA https://t.co/ITcTpK9tBt pic.twitter.com/gZWFs9W93Y

— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) December 13, 2025

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The Cougars blew that lead in the second period as the Blazers responded with three unanswered goals of their own. Tommy Lafrienere scored a power play marker in the opening minute of the period, before Cooper Moore and JP Hurlbert made it a 3-3 game after 40 minutes.

Dmitri Yakutsenak and Lafrienere then traded third period goals to send the B.C. Division contest to overtime, where neither side prevailed.

Hurlbert scored the only shootout goal for the Blazers while Souch and Yakutsenak solved Ivans Kufertins to give the Cougars the extra point.

Lewis was mobbed by his teammates after he denied Nathan Behm with a left-pad toe save in the shootout.

🎥SAVE OF THE NIGHT🎥

In his WHL debut, Preston Lewis secures the shootout W for the Cougars! @PGCougars | @RealCDNSS | #SaveoftheNight pic.twitter.com/gPxb6ugpPO

— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) December 13, 2025

The BC Division-leading Cougars improve to 21-8-0-0, and sit seven points behind the Western Conference-leading Everett Silvertips (23-3-2-1). The Blazers moved to 14-11-2-3 to sit fifth in the Western Conference.

The Cougars will rematch with the Blazers to conclude their first half home schedule this evening. It’s the annual Teddy & Toque Toss Night game and puck drop is scheduled for 6:00 p.m.