Played on Dec 17, 2025
Game Played in South Okanagan Events Centre
General Game Notes: The visiting Prince George Cougars jumped out to a 2-1 lead over the hometown Penticton Vees, which they held for most of the first period, until Ryden Evers scored with 20 seconds left in the period. Brady Birnie then took over for the Vee’s scoring three unanswered goals, leading his team to a 5-2 victory. Aiden Foster had a goal and assist in a losing cause for the Cougars.
Callum Stone (D, L, 5’8″, 171, Penticton Vees, 02/08/2007)
Game Rating
B
Stone is a reliable defenseman with a strong defensive mindset. He excels at anticipating opponents’ moves and intercepting passes, showcasing good gap control and body positioning in the defensive zone. His agility allows him to quickly close gaps and disrupt opponents’ plays. While he may not be the most physical presence on the ice, his quickness and tenacity make up for it. He is a steady puck handler and dependable first passer, often making smart outlet decisions under pressure. His skating ability, while not elite, provides enough mobility to keep up with the pace of the game. With his high work ethic and awareness of teammates’ positions, he consistently facilitates smart passes.
1 Viewing
Comments: Stone is a left-shot, 5’8′ defenseman who consistently plays bigger than his size, bringing compete and battle every shift; he logged 21+ minutes in this game (top-four minutes among his team’s defensemen) and eats quality minutes both at even strength and on the penalty kill. Dependable rather than flashy, he rarely gets beaten one-on-one on the attack or on the defensive zone coverage and is up tight on would be attackers in the neutral zone. He blocks shots willingly, and is very effective on board battles-hitting and pinning with excellent body position and an impressive 65% battle success rate on the season. He also possesses solid puck skills, consistently makes strong first passes out of the zone, and routinely moves the puck to start plays from the back end.
Doogan Pederson (D, L, 6’4″, 187, Penticton Vees, 06/27/2006)
Game Rating
B+
Doogan Pederson is a 6’3″ left-shot defenseman known for his reliable gameplay. He consistently makes steady, reliable plays and outlet passes, showcasing strong puck-battle and takeaway skills. His good puck skills allow him to transition cleanly through the neutral zone, often rewarded with offense. Pederson excels in key defensive minutes, using his smooth skating to defend on the body effectively. He also demonstrates mobility and strong skating ability, getting to pucks quickly on retrievals and consistently moving pucks through to the net. On defense, he handles one-on-ones well against quick attackers, using his stride and positioning to steer plays away from danger. Pederson’s overall skillset suggests a transition-driving, two-way blueliner who can log minutes in all situations.
1 Viewing
Comments: Pederson is a steady, reliable defenseman who delivers a consistent game every shift – you know what you’re getting. He skates very well, mobile with good acceleration and above-average top-end speed that lets him evade forecheckers and create separation, and he shows the confidence to carry the puck through the neutral zone or join the rush as an extra layer in the attack. His first pass is dependable and helps transition play cleanly; he logged over 24 minutes in this contest (second on his team), well above his season average of 18 minutes, reflecting his heavy usage in key situations. He provides strong five-on-five minutes and is a mainstay on the top penalty kill. While not a physical presence, he is effective on the boards – routinely pins opponents and wins battles at an approximately 60% clip – though adding more physicality would definitely expand his overall impact.
Brady Birnie (C, L, 5’8″, 171, Penticton Vees, 09/07/2005, Bemidji State)
Game Rating
B+
Birnie is a compact but skilled playmaker who excels in tight spaces, utilizing his high hockey IQ to create offense through precise passes and vision. He protects the puck effectively along the boards with quick movement and can finish around the net when needed. Birnie’s skating allows him to drive attack or make plays in transition, making him a valuable catalyst for offenses. In terms of game sense, Birnie is a strong puck distributor who creates separation with his quickness and makes effective plays on the flank, particularly on the power play. He competes aggressively for 50-50 pucks and demonstrates impressive toughness and detail for his size. Overall, Birnie’s skill set positions him as a high-level playmaker who drives the attack.
1 Viewing
Comments: Birnie is a tenacious offensive catalyst who skates very well with good – though not elite – top-end speed; in 16 minutes he made strong contributions both five-on-five and on the power play, finishing with three goals (two on the PP, one at even strength). Playing the strong-side flank on the man advantage, he showed great vision and can hurt you as a shooter (one goal) or with quick hands and playmaking instincts, working seams quite effectively. At 5’8′ he’s not big, but he competes in the hard areas – going to the net and working the walls – and in this game was rewarded with a goal, from the top of the crease. Most dangerous in the offensive zone, he can create chances from anywhere there. Also of note, he showed a lot of resiliency shrugging off a heavy hit he took on the first shift and bounced back to dominate on the scoresheet.
Chase Valliant (C, L, 6’1″, 187, Penticton Vees, 05/18/2006)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Valliant is a dependable, hard-working 200-foot player who reliably eats quality five-on-five and penalty-killing minutes for the Vees; in this game he logged 16 minutes, two above his season average, and has won just over 50% of his faceoffs on the year. He he is noticeable with his very good skating ability and a high-end top speed, which he uses to jump on the forecheck and pressure defenders quickly along with being somewhat dangerous on the attack – he finishes physical plays but is not an overly heavy hitter. While his offensive totals are modest, he consistently generates chances through speed, relentless pursuit of the puck, and sound puck management; he shows adequate playmaking instincts and positional awareness. Overall, Valliant is a competitive, dependable player who brings consistent effort every shift and is a trustworthy option in defensive and special-teams roles.
Phoenix Cahill (D, R, 6’2″, 212, Prince George Cougars, 07/07/2008, Colorado College)
Game Rating
B
Cahill is a 6’2″ right-shot defenseman who primarily plays a stay-at-home role. He possesses decent skating ability for his size, which allows him to accelerate and evade pressure, but this skillset can be improved upon. Cahill is physical in board battles, showing a competitive edge, but doesn’t possess an imposing presence. His puck skills are solid, with some early-game inconsistencies that have settled as the game progresses.
1 Viewing
Comments: Cahill, a 6’2′ right-shot defenseman, stepped up in the lineup and logged 19+ minutes, up from his season average of just over 14, showing he can handle increased responsibility – showing solid five-on-five minutes and reliable work on the second penalty kill. He’s successful in over 60% of his battles this season, competes physically, and his game is squarely defense-first: reads plays well, closes gaps, and makes timely decisions in his own zone. Skating is average with adequate mobility; with focused improvements to his mechanics and first-step quickness he projects to be a more impactful, dependable top-four defensive defender. He also displays clean puck skills and a reliable first pass to exit pressure.
Dermot Johnston (D, L, 6’5″, 221, Prince George Cougars, 05/04/2008)
Game Rating
B-
Dermot Johnston is a physically gifted defenseman with exceptional skating ability, allowing him to effectively retrieve pucks and transition quickly up ice. His defensive prowess is notable, as he uses his size and positioning to hit and pin opponents, while also being mindful of his positioning in the zone. Notably, Johnston showcases poise and puck skills when approaching the opponent’s blue line, making smart plays and demonstrating vision on offense. To reach his full potential, Johnston will need to refine his gap control, as inconsistencies were observed during the game. Despite this area for improvement, Johnston’s overall skill set is impressive, highlighting a promising young defenseman with great potential.
1 Viewing
Comments: Johnston is a 6’4′ left-shot defenseman who projects as a reliable, steady-minute option for the Cougars; he can get around the ice somewhat effectively and shows adequate puck skills with good vision and the ability to execute clean outlet passes. His overall toolkit is average at present – his neutral-zone gap control can be tighter and he should add quickness and refine skating mechanics to elevate his game. Increasing his physicality and aggressiveness would make him harder to play against and better able to leverage his size. He currently puts in serviceable five on five minutes, in this game he logged over 13. With targeted development on his footwork, acceleration and engagement along the boards, Johnston has the profile of a dependable top-four/situational shut-down defender.
Arseni Anisimov (D, L, 6’0″, 177, Prince George Cougars, 11/25/2007)
Game Rating
B
Arseni Anisimov is a mobile two-way defenseman who excels at defending the rush and providing reliable coverage in the defensive zone. He possesses good puck skills, consistently moving the puck to teammates and quickly presenting for returns. His hockey IQ is above-average, allowing him to make simple plays and read the game effectively. Anisimov’s skillset is built around his ability to be a dependable contributor in all situations. While not physically imposing, he can get in people’s way and is a regular on both power play and penalty kill units. His ice time averages near 20 minutes per game, highlighting his importance to the team.
1 Viewing
Comments: Anisimov is a reliable, all-situation defenseman for the Cougars who lead his team in minutes played at 22:30 and saw top-unit power-play and penalty-kill time (with the absence of Carels WJC) and quality five-on-five minutes; at about 5’11’ he competes with limited physically but was somewhat successful in puck battles with good technique, and his smooth, efficient skating with deceptive top-end speed allows him to separate in transition-on one sequence he spun off forecheckers and carried the puck through the neutral zone-while he shows poise with the puck consistently making good first passes to jumpstart breakouts and find open teammates. He shows strong gap control and projects more as a puck-moving, play-driving defenseman, that is sound in the defensive zone also; areas to improve are added functional strength to better sustain contact and have more success on battles; overall he projects as a reliable, mobile and very versatile top four defenceman at the next level.
Kooper Gizowski (LW, L, 5’9″, 177, Prince George Cougars, 05/05/2005)
Game Rating
B+
Kooper Gizowski is a skilled forward with a strong focus on playmaking ability and vision. He excels in tight spaces, utilizing quick hands, point-to-point speed, and accurate passing to set up his teammates. His rapid release allows for effective shooting and setting up others. While he may not be a driving force on the attack, Gizowski gets into position to capitalize on his speedy linemates’ efforts. Gizowski’s puck skills are a notable asset, particularly in power-play situations where his one-timer and quick release create scoring opportunities. However, his skating is average, relying on finding space rather than chasing pucks. To reach his full potential, he needs to increase his consistent effort and engagement from shift to shift.
1 Viewing
Comments: Gizowski is a sneaky offensive threat who consistently creates offense with his quickness in tight spaces and knack for making plays under pressure; his strong puck skills and smart movement make him a reliable option on the flank of the top power-play unit where he gets open, sets up plays and unleashes an effective one-timer. He’s a good, though not elite, skater with average top-end speed, logged 18 minutes this game, and added some pushback and bite, but his engagement on loose-puck battles is inconsistent – improving his competitiveness on puck races and one-on-one battles would raise his overall value.
Townes Kozicky (C, R, 6’1″, 177, Prince George Cougars, 06/30/2008)
Game Rating
B-
Townes Kozicky is a well-rounded center with a strong work ethic and physical presence on the ice. He possesses good top-end speed and agility, although refining his stride and technique could enhance his initial acceleration. As a third-line center, Kozicky’s role involves winning battles for pucks and quickly distributing them to his teammates in transition. He demonstrates a solid ability to finish checks and compete physically, making him an asset on the ice. However, there is room for improvement in faceoff performance and skating technique, which could help optimize his speed and agility. Overall, Kozicky’s reliability and two-way capabilities make him a promising player with upside as a dependable forward.
1 Viewing
Comments: Kozicki is a high-energy right winger who brings consistent work rate and physicality every shift. His skating is serviceable — good top-end speed and acceleration that he uses to close gaps and pressure the puck, though tightening up his stride mechanics would improve his overall effectiveness. He finishes checks everywhere, attacks the net willingly with or without the puck, and creates front-of-net traffic on point shots; he competes hard along the boards and works hard to recover loose pucks, but he is currently more of a puck-retriever than a primary play driver. Puck skills are adequate for his role, and added strength would help him win more battles and sustain plays through contact. In this game he logged nearly 12 minutes of ice time, about two minutes above his season average, showing trust from the coaches to play a heavier, energy-driven role.
Aiden Foster (LW, L, 6’2″, 184, Prince George Cougars, 02/25/2007)
Game Rating
B+
Foster possesses a well-rounded skill set, characterized by his smooth skating ability, which allows him to maintain speed with the puck and create scoring opportunities through physicality and skillful play. His composure under pressure enables him to make the correct play in critical situations, rather than forcing turnovers. He excels at winning battles for loose pucks and establishing position in front of the net. Foster’s defensive awareness is notable, as he consistently takes on critical responsibilities and effectively covers areas below the hash marks. His ability to contribute offensively, defensively, and physically makes him a valuable asset to his team. Foster’s consistency and reliability make him a dependable forward who can provide energy and situational special-teams value.
1 Viewing
Comments: Foster is a high-impact, two-way centre whose 6’2′ frame and excellent skating allow him to drive play at both ends of the ice; he pairs top-end speed and solid puck skills with a hard, consistent physical edge, regularly winning battles, finishing checks and initiating or supporting in scrums. He’s hard on the forecheck finishing physically-and shows reliable net presence, burying a power-play rebound from the top of the crease. He also displays poise and playmaking vision, delivering a nice cross-ice feed that led to a goal. He also showed an ability to drive play through the neutral zone given his quality overall skill set. In the defensive zone, maintaining body position and more of a stop and start game, would be a benefit to him. A dependable workhorse, Foster led his teams forward group logging nearly 20 minutes while contributing to both the power play and penalty kill and proving to be a key contributor in all phases.
Eli Johnson (D, R, 5’11”, 197, Prince George Cougars, 01/14/2008, St. Cloud)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Johnson is a stocky 5’11’ right-shot defenseman who played an elevated role (~19:00 TOI) due to absences, and projects as a puck-moving defenceman with good top-end speed and decent mobility. He displays confident puck skills and playmaking on the second power-play unit – showing vision, quickness and the ability to make plays from the top – and is a reliable passer who moves the puck hard and flat. He doesn’t hesitate to carry the puck when there’s open ice and consistently initiates transition, but his defensive game shows limited physicality and he can be late closing gaps at times; nonetheless he boxes out effectively in front of the net. By no means flashy, he has the ability to put in quality minutes for the Cougars.
Photo credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images