Carson Carels and Kooper Gizowksi celebrate the overtime winner against the Kelowna Rockets on Jan. 17, 2026. (Image Credit: Steve Dunsmoor/Kelowna Rockets)

By Victor Kaisar

Cougars 3 Rockets 2 OT

Carels’ scores OT winner, Parascak ends drought as Cougars beat Rockets

Jan 18, 2026 | 10:02 AM

KELOWNA — Carson Carels scored a highlight reel goal in overtime to lead the Prince George Cougars to a 3-2 win over the Kelowna Rockets at Prospera Place Saturday (Jan. 17) night.

The 17-year-old NHL draft eligible defenceman connected on a pass from Kooper Gizowski and beat Rockets netminder Harrison Boettiger low on his glove side at 3:10 in overtime. That was the 49th shot that Boettiger faced, and he was able to keep out 46 of them.

🎥HIGHLIGHT OF THE NIGHT🎥

Carson Carels reaches into his bag of tricks and ices it in overtime 🥶@PGCougars | #NHLDraft | #WHLHoN pic.twitter.com/qMytnyvtfV

— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) January 18, 2026

Carels’ backhanded breakaway winner made it back-to-back overtime wins for the Cougars following Friday’s comeback win over the Kamloops Blazers.

The Cougars came out firing as they outshot Kelowna 21-6 in the opening period, though somehow there were no goals scored.

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The Rockets opened the scoring at 13:24 of the second when Ty Halaburda beat Josh Ravensbergen on the power play. The Cougars netminder finished with 29 saves on the night.

The Cougars responded just over a minute later when Terik Parascak scored his first since Nov. 28, when he buried a rebound at 14:36. The Rockets retook the lead when Tij Iginla fired another power play goal past Ravensbergen at 17:28 of the period.

Terik Parascak’s 20th of the season ties the game!@Capitals | @CarlsJrCA https://t.co/ECZz5AwQ7A pic.twitter.com/NzM15VTgWB

— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) January 18, 2026

Riley Ashe tied the game at 2-2 at 11:10 of the third period to force overtime.

The 25-16-2-0 Cougars are third in the Western Conference with 52 points from 43 games. Kelowna (21-14-4-2) is four points behind in fifth place.

The Cougars will wrap up a rare three game weekend in Langley this evening when they face the Vancouver Giants at 4:00 p.m.