Energy hits Prince George

Sep 11, 2026 | 3:57 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – Defenceman Ethan Popowich has emerged as the unexpected storyline of Prince George’s training camp, injecting energy and optimism into a preseason defined by turnover and transition. A late addition who wasn’t originally expected to attend, Popowich has quickly become one of the most talked‑about players on the ice — and head coach Mark Lamb says the team didn’t hesitate when the opportunity to bring him in suddenly opened.

Lamb says Popowich was initially bound for Vancouver before plans shifted. “He was a late invite to camp. He was going to go to Vancouver, and then they decided not to, so we got a hold of him and brought him into camp, and he’s still here and having a great camp.”

Popowich’s rise has been a welcome surprise during a preseason marked by the departure of several veteran leaders. Even with that turnover, Lamb insists the team’s identity remains firm. “We lost a lot of leadership, but our culture and how we run things here, we’ve got a lot of leaders that are just going to follow their leadership and go into this year.”

The Cougars dropped their first two exhibition games while icing a young lineup, something Lamb says they’re working to correct. “We didn’t fare very well, and we want to clean that up. We had a really good week of practice, so we’re going to have more veterans in the lineup tonight or tomorrow. We’re going out to try to win.”

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Forward Riley Ashe says the players feel both the urgency and the excitement of the moment. “I think we just come in with the same mentality, change a few things and go to work.”

Inside the room, he says the mood is electric. “It’s just pure excitement, little nerves here and there. But they’re good things sometimes.”

Ashe expects a hard, physical matchup as the team pushes toward opening night versus Penticton September 18. “They should expect a tight game, a hard game. Both teams are going to come. We’re going to come hard.”

His message to younger teammates is simple: “Just don’t let anything get to you. Just go out there, play your game, do your thing and we’ll carry you along.”

Prince George closes out its preseason with two final games, hoping a blend of emerging talent — including Popowich — and returning veterans will set the tone for a strong start to the regular season.

by Stephen Lewyta

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Energy hits Prince George

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