Chase Witala’s stellar offensive week continued Friday night in Prince George. The 17-year-old recorded his first WHL hat-trick, en route to a 6-2 Prince George Cougars victory over the visiting Victoria Royals. Colin Jacobs, Dallas Ehrhardt and Tanner Lishchynsky added the other goals for the Cougars who also received strong goaltending from Mac Engel, who made 28 saves on 30 shots faced.

Heading into tonight’s game, Chase Witala had scored three consecutive goals for the Prince George Cougars. He wasted no time extending that streak to four when he skated down the left wing and beat Coleman Vollrath at 3:39 of the first period. The Cougars outshot Victoria 18-8 in the first period, but only managed the one goal.

Troy Bourke and Chase Witala then combined on another goal early in the second period to make it 2-0 Cougars. Troy Bourke did most of the work as he wormed his way past some Victoria defenders and then centered a backhand pass to Witala who tapped it home into an open net for his fifth straight goal, and his 13^th of the season.

Victoria would answer back at 3:59 when Alex Gogolev beat Mac Engel from the left wing side for his 18^th season, and the deficit was 2-1.

Back came the Cougars though when Tanner Lishchynsky carried the puck across the Royals blueline, and beat Coleman Vollrath with a low shot through the five-hole for his second of the season.

The Cougars then got into some penalty trouble, but managed to pad their lead with a pair of shorthanded goals. First it was Colin Jacobs who was hauled down on a breakaway, which earned him a penalty shot. Jacobs notched his third penalty-shot goal of the season at 7:14 which extended the lead to 4-1. That goal spelt the end of the night for Royals starter Coleman Vollrath.

Dallas Ehrhardt then got into the act when he left the penalty-box and was given a breakaway pass. Ehrhardt’s first shot was stopped by Patrik Polivka, but he grabbed his own rebound and knocked it in off of Polivka for another short-handed marker and a 5-1 Cougars lead.

 Logan Fisher would make it 5-2 when he deflected home a Jack Walker point shot with four seconds left on a late power play, and the teams skated into the second intermission with the Cougars holding a 5-2 lead.

Chase Witala completed his hat-trick at 15:40 when he banged home a pass from Troy Bourke off a three-on-one rush. Witala’s 14^th of the season and sixth this week made the final score 6-2 for the Cougars.

The final shots on goal were 34-30 for the Cougars who finished the game zero-for-five on the power play, but killed off six of Victoria’s seven power plays. Chase Witala, Troy Bourke and Dallas Ehrhardt all recorded multi-point games.

The victory helps push Prince George within four points of eighth place in the West thanks to Seattle’s loss against Portland.

Next up, a rematch with Victoria on Saturday night from the CN Centre.