Cougars take down shot-heavy Blazers on Teddy & Toque Night

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With Saturday night marking the Cougars’ return of the Teddy & Toque Toss, the BC Division-leading Kamloops Blazers stood in the way as a potential Scrooge. But four minutes into the period, defenceman Ethan Samson teed one up and the puck managed to find its way through traffic and between the pads of Blazers’ Dylan Ernst.

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The stuffed toys and warm clothing rained down from the stands as the Cougars took to centre ice to celebrate the early goal. The game was considered a sellout crowd with restrictions still capping the CN Centre at 50 per cent capacity. Total attendance for the game was 2,951.

Kamloops balanced things a few minutes later. Matthew Seminoff scored his 14th of the season just past the midway mark of the first period.

Heading into the first intermission tied was a welcomed sign for the Cougars, especially after being outshot 17-8 in the first 20 minutes of play.

After a clean opening period, the second period was filled with whistles leading to powerplays, the majority being given to Kamloops. The lone Cougars powerplay was short-lived after Connor Bowie was called for delay of game just over a minute into the man advantage.

Kamloops kept the shot count up through the second period, piling on the shots and keeping Gauthier busy. Through 40 minutes, Gauthier faced 31 shots but kept the doors closed in the second period as the score stood at 1-1.

In the third period, the Blazers got an early powerplay thanks to a delay of game call against 16-year-old Riley Heidt.

Just as the penalty expired, Gauthier saucered the puck nearly to the entire length of the ice as Heidt found himself rushing out of the box behind the Kamloops defence. Ernst beat him to the puck, however, coughed the puck up to Craig Armstrong, connecting with Heidt, who fluttered the puck over Ernst and dropped it into the net.

But just as the PA announcer was making the call of the goal to the CN Centre crowd, the Blazers answered back. Reece Belton flexed his stick and beat Gauthier blocker side for his sixth of the season to knot things back up.

After a scuffle between rookie Caden Brown and Josh Pillar, leading to 4-on-4 hockey, Samson sparked a bullet off of his blade and made twine ripple in behind Ernst as the Cougars reclaimed their lead, leading 3-2.

A miscue on the ensuing faceoff led to a quick breakaway by Kamloops, leading to a hooking call and penalty shot for the Blazers.

On the penalty shot, Daylan Kuefler looked to stretch Gauthier but ran out of real estate, putting the puck right into the chest of the Cougars goalie.

With 1:17 remaining and the Cougars still leading 3-2, Kamloops’ Head Coach Shaun Clouston brought Ernst into the bench in favour of the sixth skater. But the Cougars held on to pull off their first win over the Blazers during the 2021-22 season.

Taylor Gauthier finished the game with 48 saves on 50 shots, aiding Prince George to improve to a 10-14 on the season, handing Kamloops their sixth loss of the season.

Prince George will be back on the ice come Tuesday (Dec. 14) against the Vancouver Giants at home. The game is scheduled to get underway at 7:00 p.m.