The Prince George Cougars defeated the Vancouver Giants 4-2 in their Western Hockey League preseason game Friday at the Port Coquitlam Community Centre.
It was the first Major Junior game to be played at the new $132-million facility where a capactiy crowd of 800 packed the Jon Baillie Arena.
The Cougars jumped out to a 2-0 lead on goals by Terik Perascak and Ethan Samson just over two minutes apart in the first period.
Sammy May got the Giants on the scoreboard 1:10 later, beating Prince George goalie Ty Young after he was set up by Matthew Edwards.
Hudson Thornton restored the Cougars two-goal advantage midway through the second period, but Mazden Leslie's goal at 15:13 got Vancovuer back to within a goal heading into the intermission break.
The only goal in the third period was an empty-netter by the Cougars Carlin Dezainde with 54 seconds remaining in regulation time.
Both teams directed 24 shots on net and each had four power play opportunities with Samson's goal for Prince George the only one to be scored with a man advantage.
The Cougars will play again at the PCCC this evening, when they face the Victoria Royals at 7 p.m.
