Cougars will open season with visit to Victoria

The Prince George Cougars will open their 25th Western Hockey League season on Sept. 21 in Victoria.

The league released its 2018-19 schedule on Tuesday. Each of the 22 teams will play 68 games, down from 72. The change, approved in October 2017 by the WHL board of governors, is intended to reduce travel and balance the schedule. As well, it is seen as a way to provide players with more time for training and academic studies.

The WHL had used a 72-game schedule since 1975-76.

The Cougars will also skate in Victoria against the Royals on Sept. 22.

The first home games for the Cats are Sept. 28-29 against the Kelowna Rockets.

“It’s a special season as we celebrate our 25th anniversary in Prince George, and we have a lot of exciting plans in place to celebrate our history,” said vice president of business Andy Beesley in a team release. “We continue to strive to deliver the very best sports entertainment in Northern British Columbia.”

Twenty-two of the Cougars’ 34 home games fall on weekends (seven on Fridays, 11 on Saturdays, four on Sundays).

This coming season, Kamloops and Vancouver will play host to the CIBC Canada Russia Series. A WHL all-star team will face the Russians on Nov. 5 in Kamloops and Nov. 6 in Vancouver.

Lightning looking at Leppard

Cougars forward Jackson Leppard is in Brandon, Fla., for a Tampa Bay Lightning development camp.

The camp has brought together 27 players (draft picks, top prospects and invitees) for on-ice and off-ice workouts. A three-onthree tournament will be held on Friday and Saturday.

In 2017-18, his sophomore season in the WHL, Leppard played in 68 games for the Cougars and set career highs in goals (15), assists (21) and points (36).

Gauthier getting U-18 tryout

Taylor Gauthier of the Cougars is one of four goaltenders who will attend a Hockey Canada selection camp from July 28 to Aug. 1 in Calgary. At stake will be spots on the Under-18 team that will represent Canada at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup, Aug. 6-11 in Edmonton and Red Deer.

Gauthier appeared in 32 games as a Cougars rookie last season. He picked up eight wins and had an .885 save percentage.

Nolan Maier of the Saskatoon Blades is one of the other goalies who has been invited to the camp. Luke Cavallin (Flint, OHL) and Mack Guzda (Owen Sound, OHL) will also be in uniform.

The annual tournament – formerly known as the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Cup – is being held in North America for the first time.