With no points in the standings up for grabs, the best thing a team can pick up during the pre-season is information.
Following their 8-4 loss to the Vancouver Giants in Port Coquitlam, the Prince George Cougars feel like they’ve gathered quite a bit.
“It was good to get the young guys in our lineup and see what the pace was like for them. All in all, we were happy with the work ethic, just some details need to be cleaned up,” said Assistant Coach Carter Rigby.
The Cougars and Giants traded a pair of goals each in the opening period. After Drew Peterson wristed a shot from the point to make it 1-0 at 3:46, Ty Halaburda of the Giants tied it up with a shot in tight at 5:25. Terik Parascak got PG back ahead on the power-play, going top corner in front of the goal at 9:46. Vancouver got it right back at 11:50 from Jaden Lipinski tapping one in from a Cameron Schmidt feed.
In the second period, the Giants opened it up, getting goals from Ty Halaburda at 11:11, Cameron Schmidt at 12:53, and Cayden Cali at 18:17 to make it 4-1. Cougars 2023 first round selection Carson Carels got the Cougars within two after going top shelf from the left circle at 18:47. The Giants responded shortly after, getting a goal from Tyler Thorpe off a pass from Ty Halaburda on a 2 on 1 at 18:17.
In the final 20 minutes, Vancouver added two more goals from Skyler Bruce at 4:19 and Cayden Cali at 14:27. Arjun Bawa got the 4th goal for PG scoring on a breakaway at 14:53. Bawa received a fantastic pass in transition from 2022 signed forward Aiden Foster.
The Cougars will wrap up the weekend tonight when they take on the Victoria Royals at 7 p.m. in Port Coquitlam.