Image Credit: Prince George Cougars
Cougars 5 Wild 3

Cougars sweep Wild to stay ahead in quest for BC Division title

Mar 16, 2025 | 10:15 AM

PRINCE GEORGE — The Prince George Cougars scored on their first shot of the game, and then avoided a late lapse, as they beat the Wenatchee Wild 5-3 Saturday (March 15) night.

The win keeps the Cougars atop the BC Division standings going into the final week of the WHL regular season. The Cougars move to 86 points from 66 games, while the Victoria Royals have 84 points from 64 games.

Koehn Ziemmer made more history when he opened the scoring with his 36th goal of the season. It was Ziemmer’s 37th career power play goal that moved him past former captain Dana Tyrell for most in franchise history.

The Wild, who are still fighting for their playoff lives, were no pushovers, as they tied the game at 1-1 through Dawson Seitz at 13:31. Viliam Kmec restored the lead heading into the first intermission with another power play goal.

Matteo Danis scored the only goal of the second as the Cougars appeared to be coasting to another win at CN Centre. The Wild refused to go away as Evan Friesen scored twice to make it a 3-3 game. Friesen also had two goals the nigth before.

But with time winding down, Borya Valis scored the go-ahead goal at 16:08 before Aiden Foster’s empty-net goal in the final second sealed the win and sent fans home with pizza.

Cooper Michaluk stopped 27 of 30 shots to pick up the win for the Cougars. Brendan Gee stopped 29 of 33 in a losing effort for the Wild.

Elsewhere, Riley Heidt (four) and Carson Carels (three) combined for seven total assists, as the Cougars improved to 24-4-3-2 at the CN Centre this season.

Next up for the Cougars is a pair of home games against the Royals on retro night this Friday and Saturday, March 21 and 22. Victoria will play games in Kamloops and Kelowna before heading to Prince George for games that will determine the BC Division champion.

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