It was a night that Prince George Cougars captain Sam Ruopp won’t soon forget. Prior to puck drop, the 18-year-old native of Zehner, Saskatchewan was named the 22nd captain in the history of the Prince George Cougars. From there, the new captain did everything possible to lead his team. He threw several huge hits, contributed with an assist on the game winning goal and finished a +4 in a 4-1 victory for the Cougars over the Kamloops Blazers on Saturday.

The Cougars wasted little time getting things going offensively. Brad Morrison snuck into the slot and snuck a backhand shot past Cole Kehler and in for his fourth goal of the season.

Kamloops responded with a bit of a strange one. Ryan Rehill pinched from the right point, fired a quick shot towards the goal that redirected in off Luke Harrison to give the Blazers the tied score. It wouldn’t last long.

Back came the Cougars with two quick ones in the final stages of the first. First it was Marc McNulty who took a Sam Ruopp pass, wormed his way to the middle and buried a wrist shot for his second goal of the season. Then with six seconds left in the period, Jansen Harkins took an Aaron Macklin pass and snuck it past the glove of Cole Kehler for his fouth of the season.

Early in the second, the Blazers had some chances, but Ty Edmonds came up big with some timely stops. Two of which were made off of Kamloops captain Matt Needham. At the halfway point of the game, the Cougars held a commanding lead in the shot department: 17-5.

The game’s final goal came at 12:58 of the second period off the stick of Tate Olson. Olson pounced on a Jari Erricson pass and snuck a point shot through a maze of bodies and in for his second goal of the season.

In the third period, the Cougars were structurally sound, not allowing much of any steady zone time for Kamloops. The final shot tally of the game was 34-24 for Prince George who killed off all three Kamloops power play chances and didn’t receive a single power play to their credit.

The Cougars improve to 9-8-0-0 and will return to action this afternoon for a rare 2:00 PM start against the same Kamloops Blazers.