Cougars face Gauthier for the first time since trade, fall to Winterhawks 4-1

Jan 29, 2022 | 9:14 AM

PRINCE GEORGE — The Prince George Cougars were welcomed by a familiar face in the United States Friday (Jan. 28) evening.

The Cougars faced former starting goaltender Taylor Gauthier — who played 166 games for Prince George over five season — for the first time since trading him to the Portland Winterhawks on Dec. 27, 2021.

Riley Heidt opened the scoring for Prince George against his former teammate – skating through the middle and finishing with a wrist shot – but Gauthier wouldn’t allow another goal against, making 26 saves in Portland’s 4-1 win.

The Cougars did get reinforcements back for their six-game U.S. road trip after playing the Kamloops Blazers shorthanded. Forwards Connor Bowie, Carlin Dezainde, Fischer O’Brien, Jonny Hooker, and defenceman Hudson Thornton returned to the lineup as the Cougars dressed 11 forwards and seven defencemen.

Prince George falls to 17-20-1-1 on the 2021-22 Western Hockey League season, good for 36 points in 39 games, third in the B.C. Division, and sixth in the Western Conference. They continue their road trip Saturday (Jan. 29) when they face the Western Conference leading Everett Silvertips.