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WHL  

Hot Cougars tame Rockets

The Prince George Cougars are heading home a perfect 4-0 following a tidy 2-1 victory over the Kelowna Rockets Wednesday at Prospera Place.

The Cougars opened the WHL season with four straight on the road - winning a pair in Victoria before defeating Vancouver Tuesday night.

For the Rockets, it was their second defeat in three outings to start the season. They now embark on a five-game road trip beginning with a pair of games this weekend against these same Cougars in Prince George.

For the Rockets Wednesday, it was a matter of getting their game kick-started too late.

"We did some good things, but I don't think we shot the puck and got to the net enough early in the game," said head coach Jason Smith.

"We spent a lot of time defending because we were one and done in the offensive zone. It's a lot harder to defend then it is to play offence."

The Cougars opened the scoring just 56 seconds in. Michael Herringer's attempt to clear the puck along the board was intercepted by a Prince George forward.

Two passes later and Jared Bethune had his first of the season.

The Rockets got that one back in the second. While killing a penalty, Cal Foote beat the Cougar defence to a puck deep in PG corner and, instead of ringing the puck back into his own end, found Tomas Soustal alone in front.

Soustal deked Ty Edmonds before beating him five-hole.

It stayed that way until late in the second when Bethune stripped the puck from Gordie Ballhorn behind the Kelowna net an slid it to Yan Khomenko, whose one-timer from a sharp angle beat Herringer short side.

The Rockets had chances to draw even. Soustal had three great chances close in but was unable to beat Edmonds, and Foote's drive from the mid slot just missed the target.

Wednesday's game marked the return of defencemen Devante Stephens and Braydyn Chizen to the lineup. Both returned from NHL camps.

"It's nice to be back and see the guys. It was a fun time in camp, I learned a lot and will try to bring that back and work into my game here," said Stephens.

"I need to work on my stick handling and the speed of the game. How you think out there and your first pass."

Chizen's debut was short-lived. He left, doubled over, early in the third period after crashing hard into the board at the Rockets blueline.

His status for the weekend isn't known.

The Rockets were again one under the roster limit with four players still at NHL camps. It's not know if any will be back in time to make the trip up north.



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