Blazers captain Ryan Michael and Cougars netminder Preston Lewis in action during a WHL game on Dec. 12, 2025. (Image Credit: Prince George Cougars)

By Victor Kaisar

Cougars 5 Blazers 4 SO

Blazers bested in shootout as Salmon Arm’s Preston Lewis wins WHL debut with Cougars

Dec 13, 2025 | 8:04 AM

PRINCE GEORGE — The Kamloops Blazers erased a three goal deficit but they fell 5-4 in a shootout to the Prince George Cougars Friday (Dec. 12) at the CN Centre.

Tommy Lafrienere scored twice and added an assist as the Blazers were bested by Salmon Arm’s Preston Lewis, who was called up from the Devon Xtreme in the Alberta Junior Hockey League and thrust into action.

The 19-year-old Lewis – who grew up playing for the Thompson Blazers – stopped 23 of 27 shots in his WHL debut.

Hoping to capitalize against a shorthanded Cougars side, the Blazers found themselves in a 3-0 hole about 10 minutes into the first period. Kayden Lemire, Bauer Dumanski and Brock Souch got pucks past Ivans Kufterins, who allowed three goals in a 2:49 span.

The Blazers’ Latvian netminder, who is expected to depart for World Junior duty after this weekend, finished the night with 44 saves on 48 shots.

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The comeback effort began in the second period as the Blazers responded with three unanswered goals of their own. Lafrienere scored a power play marker in the opening minute, before Cooper Moore and JP Hurlbert made it 3-3 midway through the period.

One-T Tommy❗️ pic.twitter.com/LCBEWDFhEt

— Kamloops Blazers (@blazerhockey) December 13, 2025

Dmitri Yakutsenak and Lafrienere then traded third period goals to send the B.C. Division contest to overtime, where neither side prevailed.

Hurlbert scored the only shootout goal for the Blazers while Souch and Yakutsenak solved Kufertins to give the Cougars the extra point.

Not long after Yakutsenak scored, Lewis was mobbed by his teammates after he denied Nathan Behm with a left-pad toe save to help the Cougars move to a BC Division-leading record of 21-8-0-0, seven points behind the Western Conference-leading Everett Silvertips (23-3-2-1).

🎥SAVE OF THE NIGHT🎥

In his WHL debut, Preston Lewis secures the shootout W for the Cougars! @PGCougars | @RealCDNSS | #SaveoftheNight pic.twitter.com/gPxb6ugpPO

— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) December 13, 2025

The Blazers are 14-11-2-3 and sit fifth in the Western Conference with the WHL’s winter break approaching.

The Blazers and Cougars will rematch at the CN Centre with puck drop set for 6:00 p.m. this evening. They’ll host the Tri-City Americans on Wednesday (Dec. 17) and play the Seattle Thunderbirds on the road two nights later to conclude the unofficial first half of the season.