A new year and a new opportunity for the Prince George Cougars who will begin a difficult stretch of games in 2013 tonight against their B.C. Division rivals, the Kelowna Rockets. Tonight’s game will mark the sixth meeting already between these two clubs, but the first to take place in Prince George since October 6, 2012.

Overview:

To call the Kelowna Rockets ‘hot’ would be an understatement. Ryan Huska’s team heads into tonight’s game with a 9-1 record in their past 10 games, and an overall mark of 27-10-1-1 which is good enough for third place in the Western Conference standings. That said, they trail Kamloops by just two points with two games in hand. So far this season they are 4-1 against Prince George.

Who’s Up Front:

The Kelowna Rockets boast one of the league’s top forwards in 19-year-old winger Myles Bell. In 39 games this season, Bell has scored 24 goals, added 30 assists, and is currently ranked sixth in league scoring with 54 points. Bell has six points in his last four games, and has tallied eight points so far this season against Prince George.

Who’s on D:

The Kelowna Rockets one-through-six might have one of the most well-rounded groups of defencemen in the entire WHL. It all starts with 18-year-old Damon Severson. The New Jersey Devils prospect leads the Rockets with 27 points, and is a +12 on the season. As strong as Severson is offensively, his defensive awareness is very strong as well. Add the likes of Madison Bowey, Mitch Wheaton, Jesse Lees and Colten Martin and you’ve got a reliable group that can beat you at both sides of the ice.

Who’s in Goal:

Kelowna goaltender Jordan Cooke had an excellent December. Cooke’s 6-0 record was complimented by a 2.00 goals-against-average and a save percentage of .908. Cooke was named Vaughn CHL Goaltender of the Month for his efforts.

X-Factor:

Heading into the weekend, the Rockets boast the fifth best power play in the Western Hockey League. Their penalty kill currently sits fourth, and they lead the entire WHL in shorthanded goals with eight. Bottom line, is that the Cougars will need to be disciplined, but also aware when they are on the man-advantage.

Overview:

Heading into tonight’s game, Dean Clark’s Prince George Cougars hold a record of 12-20-1-4. They are ranked ninth in the Western Conference, and currently hold a nine point lead on the Vancouver Giants for fourth place in the B.C. Division. The Cougars trail eighth placed Everett by three points, but also hold three games in hand on them. The Cougars are 1-4 against Kelowna this season having posted a 6-3 win at home on October 5^th.

Who’s Up Front:

One of the most encouraging signs for the Cougars heading into 2013 has been the emergence of Troy Bourke offensively. Bourke has a five-game point streak heading into this weekend, and in that span he has notched two goals and seven assists. Given the recent string of injuries, it’s important for Bourke and his linemates to continue producing at this type of consistent level. If they do, the Cougars will put themselves into a position to win games.

Who’s on D:

With a point in Sunday’s game in Vancouver, rookie defenceman Marc McNulty has taken over the team lead for scoring by a defenceman. McNulty had a good month in December, posting three points and was a +5 through the month. As McNulty’s draft-stock continues to rise, so will his responsibility. A big weekend from McNulty will likely be needed again at both ends for the Cougars to find success.

Who’s in Goal:

Though his final start of 2012 was likely one that he’ll want to forget, Brett Zarowny’s month of December was truly memorable for the Prince George Cougars. Zarowny went 3-3 with a goals-against-average of 2.00 and a save percentage of .938. The coaches may have other ideas, but the initial thought of a Brett Zarowny/Jordan Cooke duel in goal could be fun to watch.

X-Factor:

Given the recent injuries, and the overall difficulty of the upcoming schedule, the Prince George Cougars are going to need to play ‘the hard way’ if they want to be successful. The Cougars will need all systems clicking, starting from the goaltender on out. The goalie needs to make key stops. The defense needs to block shots and contain the front of the net. The forwards need to contribute at both ends as well, and when given the opportunity to score, the Cougars must capitalize. The Cougars have been outshot significantly in their past three games, and that’s a trend that also must be broken tonight if they want to win tonight against the Rockets.