Victoria Royals forward Kody McDonald, who spent most of his Western Hockey League career with the Prince George Cougars, victimized his former team mercilessly Friday night at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre.
McDonald scored twice and added an assist in a 4-3 Royals victory over the Cougars.
鈥淚t feels special heading into the stretch drive 鈥� my last two games against Prince George 鈥� and the last eight regular-season games of my WHL career,鈥� said McDonald, before the game.
Danish junior international Phillip Schultz and Tarun Fizer scored Victoria鈥檚 other goals while blueliner Jameson Murray added two assists as Victoria built a 4-1 lead and then withstood a Cougars rally attempt.
Veteran 20-year-old Griffen Outhouse made 32 saves for Victoria. His 113 victories rank in the top-10 of the all-time WHL career list and he is now seven games behind the record 120 co-held by Tyson Sexsmith and Corey Hirsch, with seven regular-season games remaining in Outhouse鈥檚 WHL career.
Prince George starter Taylor Gauthier, the Canadian U-18 gold-medallist who is the fifth-ranked North American goaltender for the 2019 NHL draft and second-highest ranked goalie from the WHL, was chased from the Cougars鈥� net in the second period after the Royals built their three-goal lead.
The sa国际传媒 Division second-place Royals (32-25-4) moved a step closer to clinching home-ice advantage for the first round of the playoffs. The Cougars (17-38-8) have officially been eliminated from post-season contention.
Still, the Royals remain wary, heading into tonight鈥檚 conclusion of the two-game set on Blanshard.
鈥淭he [Cougars] are young and skilled and capable of putting it together on any night,鈥� said McDonald.
ICE CHIPS: Four former Royals are playing in the best-of-three sa国际传媒 West conference final this weekend in Saskatoon. Tyler Soy and Brandon Magee are with the University of Alberta Golden Bears and Alex Forsberg and Carter Folk with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies.
