BY FRASER RODGERS
Prince George Cougars
The Vancouver Giants swept the opening weekend doubleheader against the Prince George Cougars after their 4-1-win Saturday at the CN Centre. The Giants were 5-3 winners Friday.
Vancouver (2-0-0-0) came out of the blocks running, as they scored three goals in the first eight-minutes of the game. Seth Bafaro, Jackson Shepard, and Justin Sourdif scored early to put the victors up 3-0 before the midway mark of the first period. Shepard scored his second of the game in the third period to finish off the Giants’ scoring. David Tendeck got the win in his first start of the season, kicking out 26 of 27 shots.
Mitch Kohner scored the Cougars’ only goal, his first career WHL goal, late in the first period. Craig Armstrong picked up his first career WHL point on that play, as he set up goal as he fired a cross-ice pass over to Kohner for the tap in at 17:38. Taylor Gauthier started in net for Prince George but was replaced by Tyler Brennan after surrendering three goals on seven shots. Brennan turned aside 12 of 13 shots in 48-minutes of work.
The Giants were 1-4 on the power-play Saturday; the Cougars 0-5.
Saturday’s win is the Giants sixth-straight at the CN Centre. A streak that dates back to October 5th, 2018. Cougars’ defenceman Cole Moberg left the game in the third period with an undisclosed injury.
The Cougars return to action next weekend with a doubleheader on Vancouver Island against the Victoria Royals, which starts Friday night. Prince George then returns home to face the Kelowna Rockets on October 4th & 5th. Single game tickets are on-sale and start at just $13, and there is also great pricing for seniors and youth as well. Tickets are on sale at the TicketsNorth by Treasure Cove Casino box office, or online at www.ticketsnorth.ca
SCORING SUMMARY
First Period
Giants [1-0] Seth Bafaro from Justin Sourdif and Kaleb Bulych 3:43
Giants [2-0] Jackson Shepard from Seth Bafaro and Alex Kannok Leipert 5:44 (power-play)
Giants [3-0] Justin Sourdif from Jackson Shepard and Seth Bafaro 8:02
Cougars [4-1] Mitch Kohner from Craig Armstrong and Tyson Upper 17:38
Second Period
No Scoring.
Third Period
Giants [4-1] Jackson Shepard from Justin Sourdif 2:55
POWER-PLAY
Cougars- 0/5
Giants- 1/4
Shots
Cougars- 27
Giants- 20
Three Stars: 1) Jackson Shepard 2) Justin Sourdif 3) Mitch Kohner
Attendance: 2,163