Prince George, B.C.- To the rest of the WHL, tonight’s matchup between the Prince George Cougars and the Kelowna Rockets is just another game. But for the City of Prince George and the long time fans of the Cougars, tonight truly signals a changing of the guard. For the past five months, the new ownership group has promised major changes and finally after what feels like an eternity, those changes become reality tonight. It’s unquestionably the most heavily anticipated home opener in the entire Western Hockey League this season, and tonight the Kelowna Rockets and the Prince George Cougars will forever be a part of some pretty iconic history.

Overview:

Dan Lambert’s Kelowna Rockets come into tonight’s game with a 1-0 record on the young season. Last Saturday in Kelowna, the Rockets defeated the Kamloops Blazers 6-1 on the strength of goals from six different players. Last season the Kelowna Rockets ran away with the B.C. Division with a record of 57-11-0-4 and this year they are once again poised to challenge for that same crown. Last season in eight games, they went 7-1 against the Cougars.

 Who’s Up Front: 

The Kelowna Rockets are notorious for their depth in all positions. Up front they possess a wealth of talent, and perhaps nobody shined brighter last season for Kelowna against Prince George more than 16-year-old WHL Rookie of the Year, Nick Merkley. Merkley led all active Kelowna Rockets with four goals and 10 points in eight games against Prince George and posted two assists during last Saturday’s win against Kamloops. The draft-eligible forward is looking to produce even bigger numbers during his second go-around in the WHL and it will be important for the Cougars to keep Merkley and his linemates in check as best as possible this weekend.

Who’s on D: 

The good news for the Prince George Cougars? Madison  Bowey remains at Washington Capitals training camp, and likely won’t be a factor in the games this weekend. The bad news for Prince George? The Rockets still have an over-abundance of defensive depth. If you want offense, Riley Stadel has your answer with 10 goals and 35 points last season. If you want dependability? You’ve got last season’s plus-minus champion Cole Martin who put up an astounding +61 rating. And if you crave size, Detroit Red Wings prospect Mitchell Wheaton will not disappoint.

Who’s in Goal: 

Over the past three seasons, Kelowna netminder Jackson Whistle has posted some very impressive numbers against the Cougars. In six starts, Whistle is 5-1 lifetime against the Cougars with a goals-against-average of well below 2.00 and a save percentage that over .950. Whistle appears ready to grab the reigns from last season’s CHL Goaltender of the Year Jordan Cooke, and tonight the Cougars will need to do everything possible to make Whistle’s life difficult in the goal crease.

X-Factor: 

It was touched on a little earlier in this piece, but depth seems to be a constant strength of the Kelowna Rockets. Tyson Baillie, Carter Rigby, Kris Schmidli, Cole Linaker and Colton Heffley provide ample depth of front, while also providing a very even mix of size, grit and skill. There will not be a single easy shift this weekend for the Prince George Cougars.

Overview: 

Mark Holick’s Prince George Cougars are coming off a two-game road trip which saw some terrific positives and some glaring negatives.  Saturday night in Portland, the Cougars were outstanding en route to a 6-3 victory over the Winterhawks and then the next night in the Tri-Cities, the Cougars were humbled 7-0. Regardless of the lopsided score Sunday, the important thing for the Cougars and the fans to remember is that one game does not define a season, and tonight at home the Prince George Cougars have the chance to be a part of something incredibly special and memorable. There will be some added nerves considering tonight’s game could have the biggest crowd that a hockey game at the CN Centre has seen since April 25^th, 2007.

 Who’s Up Front: 

Through two games, the Prince George Cougars have four forwards who are each tied for the team lead in points with two. Jansen Harkins, Chase Witala, Jordan Ross and Jari Erricson are all players who will be expected to contribute offensively throughout the season, and this weekend will be no exception. Add the fact that both Brad Morrison and David Soltes are possibilities to return this weekend, and all of a sudden you’ve got a much larger contingent of skill in the

Who’s on D:

This weekend the Cougars will be thrilled to welcome back 19-year-old defenceman Marc McNulty who recently finished up his second training camp with the Detroit Red Wings. McNulty brings a ton to the table both offensively and defensively, and should be expected to carry a bulk of the load this weekend for his team. Not only does McNulty chew up a lot of valuable minutes, but he’s an integral part of the Cougars power play. His re-addition into the lineup will be a great benefit to the Cougars this weekend.

 Who’s in Goal: 

Saturday night in Portland, Ty Edmonds was sensational turning aside 31 of the 34 shots he faced in the 6-3 victory. Sunday in Kennewick, Edmonds struggled, but granted so did the entire team which surrendered five power play goals against. The Rockets are a skilled enough group that they are going to get their quality chances, but it will be important for Edmonds to keep calm in the face of danger, and do whatever he can to keep the puck out of his net. A repeat of last Saturday’s outing in Portland would put the Cougars in a great spot to win.

 X-Factor:

Tonight’s game might have the most obvious X-Factor possible – The Crowd. For years, Prince George Cougar fans were famous for their energy, passion and noise. And tonight, that atmosphere gets restored in the CN Centre for good. Fans attending tonight’s game are going to experience things at a hockey game that they’ve never experienced before in Prince George, and hopefully they bring a level of noise that can help push the Cougars to victory. It’s going to be the first of many unforgettable nights at the CN Centre.