The Prince George Cougars couldn’t have asked for a better conclusion to the year 2014. Tuesday night in Kelowna, the Prince George Cougars defeated the Kelowna Rockets 5-3. Chase Witala and Jared Bethune each had a goal and an assist and goaltender Ty Edmonds did the rest. Edmonds was marvelous turning aside 45 of the 48 shots he faced en route to his second victory in Kelowna during the month of December.

Jared Bethune wasted little time getting the Cougars on the board. Just 1:24 into the game, Bethune crashed the net hard, and pounced on a Chase Witala rebound and knocked it past Jackson Whistle for his fifth goal of the season.

The Rockets responded with a flurry of chances, but Ty Edmonds made his mark early, turning aside opportunities from Tyson Baillie and Rourke Chartier to keep his team on top.

His team rewarded him with another goal at the 8:33 mark. Chance Braid took the puck wide to the right side, and backhanded a puck on net. The puck trickled through Whistle and in for Braid’s eighth.

Ty Edmonds continued to put on a clinic in the first period. Kelowna peppered him with shots, and each time he had an answer.

Finally at 15:44 Riley Stadel snuck in from the point and beat Edmonds on the blocker side for his seventh of the season.

After one period the Rockets had a 20-3 advantage in the shots department, but the Cougars led 2-1.

Chase Witala made it 3-1 for the Cougars at the 4:52 mark of the second when he knocked home a Joe Carvalho rebound off a point shot. Witala’s 18^th goal spelt the end of the night for Jackson Whistle who was removed from the game after surrendering three goals on just six shots faced.

Witala’s goal would prove to be important, because the Rockets had an answer of their own. Justin Kirkland converted off a Gage Quinney pass from behind the Cougars goal, and it was once again a one goal game.

Not for long. 65 seconds later the Cougars came back on a three-on-two and Jared Bethune, Tate Olson and Jansen Harkins combined on a highlight reel tally that will be shown on some WHL countdowns for the remainder of the season.

Jared Bethune started the play with a pass to Harkins. Harkins then found Tate Olson trailing the play. Olson then made an all-world no-look pass back to Harkins who did the rest, one-timing home the pass for his 13^th goal and 40^th point of the season.

After two periods the Cougars were outshot 36-11, but held a two-goal lead.

Early in the third period Kelowna had the territorial edge. But Ty Edmonds made an absolutely phenomenal save off of Rourke Chartier on a one-timer at the side of the net, and his teammates would reward him justly.

First it was Sam Ruopp who dropped the gloves in a spirited tilt with Tyrell Goulbourne. The fight was even, but the Cougars captain showed that he wouldn’t back down from the Kelowna tough guy.

Tyler Mrkonjic gave the Cougars their first three-goal lead of the night when he beat Jake Morrissey on a low shot to his glove side. Mrkonjic’s fourth goal of the season provided more than enough insurance.

Rourke Chartier added his league-high 35^th of the season on a late power play goal, but it wouldn’t be enough. The Cougars in fact, would have the last laugh.

Kirk Bear got the Kelowna crowd going with a late fight with Kelowna’s Riley Stadel, and despite the fact that Bear’s visor got knocked off his helmet, Bear ended the fight with a solid right hand and then skated to the dressing room with a confident wave to the Kelowna faithful.

When the horn sounded, the Cougars mobbed the Cougars netminder, and obvious first star Ty Edmonds who made 45 saves. With their 19^th win of the season, the Cougars move to within a single point of the Victoria Royals for second in the B.C. Division and they are 14 games ahead of their win pace from a season ago.

Now the Cougars will head South to Vancouver to prepare for a massively important game against the Vancouver Giants on Friday night at the Pacific Coliseum.

Overall it was a perfect ending to an exciting calendar year for the Prince George Cougars and if the end of 2014 is any indication, 2015 should be a thrilling year for the New Ice Age and the Prince George Cougars.