The Prince George Cougars are the first team in the Western Hockey League to arrive at the 10 win mark thanks to Saturday night’s triumph in Kennewick, WA.

Less than 24 hours removed from a shootout victory in Seattle, the Cougars, who were playing their fourth game in five nights struck three times in the first and once each in the second and third in what proved to be a 5-2 victory over the Tri-City Americans. Sam Ruopp led the way for the Cougars with three assists while Brogan O’Brien and Jesse Gabrielle each struck for a goal and an assist. Ty Edmonds made 21 saves in goal to up his record to 7-1. It marked the first time that the Tri-City Americans had lost at home this season.

Vladislav Lukin responded at 11:59 for Tri-City off a failed clear in the Cougars zone. But 19 seconds later the Cougars answered when Yan Khomenko beat Parenteau from the top of the circle off a won faceoff. Khomenko’s stick snapped on the shot, but it hand-cuffed Parenteau and helped restore the Cougars lead.

Then at 18:52 of the period the Cougars scored what would ultimately be the game winner when Sam Ruopp skated out from behind his own net, and placed a perfect pass from blueline to blueline onto the stick of Brogan O’Brien who did the rest, slipping by the defenceman and skating in alone on Parenteau and deking him out before stuffing home his second of the season.

Morgan Geekie got Tri-City back within one at 19:39 off a re-direct from a Tate Coughlin point shot, but the Cougars took a 3-2 lead into the first intermission and it would be a lead that they wouldn’t relinquish.

Period two belonged entirely to the Cougars who outshot the Ams 13-8 but dictated the play for the most part in the Tri-City zone. Justin Almeida moved the Cougars back ahead by two goals when he one-timed home a Colby McAuley pass from the slot at 6:56. For Almeida, it was his third of the season, which officially surpasses his goal totals from a season ago.

Jesse Gabrielle then rounded out the game’s scoring with an empty-netter at 18:03 to help move the Cougars to 10-2 on the season and 6-0 on the road. The Cougars were a perfect three-for-three on their penalty kill and went zero-for-two on the power play. The final shots on goal were 37-23 for Prince George who now return home to face the Swift Current Broncos at home on Tuesday night.