It was the type of win that can change the tempo of a season for the better. Friday night in Kelowna, the Prince George Cougars battled through a ton of adversity en route to a 4-3 victory over the Kelowna Rockets. Chase Witala, David Soltes and Zach Pochiro combined for nine points while goaltender Ty Edmonds made 37 saves on 40 shots faced for his 12^thvictory of the season. The Cougars penalty kill was especially key, going eight for nine including a full two-minute five-on-three and a five minute major advantage for Kelowna.

Despite the positive end result, the start of the game did not go well for the Cougars who trailed 1-0 just 35 seconds in. Tyrell Goulbourne crossed the Cougars blueline, fed Nick Merkley on the otherside of the net and snuck the puck past the sprawling Edmonds and in for his 10^th goal of the season.

Kelowna extended their lead to 2-0 at 8:23 of the first when Justin Kirkland picked off a Cougar clearing attempt, skated into the slot and snuck a shot past Edmonds and in for his ninth of the season. Edmonds got some of the Kirkland shot, but not all of it.

The second half of the first was better for the Cougars who amped up their physical play, and came awfully close to scoring on a few occasions late in the period. They outshot the Rockets 11-7 in the first period.

Early in the second the Cougars went to their first power play, and seconds later got on the scoresheet for the first time. Marc McNulty took a Chase Witala pass and hammered a puck home from the right point. For McNulty it was his third goal of the season.

Chase Witala then tied the game at the 5:06 mark of the second when he crashed the net hard and knocked home a Tate Olson rebound for his 14^th goal of the season.

The teams traded chances for the next 10 minutes, and each goaltender would be tested in a big way. Kelowna fired 17 shots on the Cougar goal but Ty Edmonds stopped them all.

Edmonds efforts would be rewarded with a pair of late goals from his teammates.

First it was Sam Ruopp at 18:45. He one-timed a Zach Pochiro pass home from the right point that went up and over the right shoulder of Jackson Whistle and in for his second goal of the season. Then Chase Witala extended the lead 63 seconds later as he banged home a Zach Pochiro rebound at the side of the Kelowna goal for his second goal of the night and his fourth point of the period.

The third period would prove to be a major challenge for the Cougars who had to kill five different penalties including: A five minute major, a full two-minute five-on-three and two penalties in the final three minutes of the game. But credit the penalty killers who held their ground, blocked a ton of shots and made the Rockets earn every square inch of ice. Ty Edmonds made a handful of A+ saves, including a gem off of Tyson Baillie during the Rockets five-on-three power play.

Rourke Chartier got the Rockets back within a goal with 1:15 left in the third, but the Cougars held off the Rockets from there, earning their first victory in Kelowna since March, 2012.

Chase Witala led the way offensively for the Cougars with two goals and two assists. David Soltes chimed in with three assists and Zach Pochiro added two helpers of his own.

The final shot totals were: Kelowna 40 – Prince George 30.

Next up for the Cougars, a battle with the Kamloops Blazers on Saturday night at the Interior Savings Centre.