The Prince George Truck and Trailer Cougars didn't get the start they were hoping for on the first day at the Tier 2 peewee provincial hockey provincials.
The Cranbrook Eagles were ready and the Cougars were not, losing 14-3.
It was a much different story on the ice at Kin 1 Tuesday night. The game was a scoreless duel until Chase London of the Fort St. John Flyers pounded the puck in past Cougars goalie Josh Adams, 18:22 into the third period, the only shot that beat him in a 1-0 game.
"That was a close one, back and forth and the goaltenders played really well,' said Cougars head coach Don Gaboury.
"That's a team we've played all year and they've beat us all year by a few goals every game but our kids came out and played just a great game.
"Overall I was really happy with everyone's effort, it was just one of those games where the break sometimes goes your way and sometimes it doesn't. We stuck with them the whole game and gave ourselves a chance to win it."
Although the Flyers outshot the Cougars 31-20, Gaboury said his team effectively prevented dangerous shots from the slot and the Cougars were good at clearing rebounds.
Port Moody defeated Prince George 8-2 Wednesday night, dropping the Cougars' record to 0-3.
Nic Braaten, Logan Jones and Cam Goertzen were the Cougar goalscorers in their first game against Cranbrook on Monday. Gaboury said nerves might have gotten to his players a bit in that game against a team that's one of the favourites to win it all Thursday night.
"They are a great hockey team with some talented kids and we'll have to fight to compete with them at the best of times but we just came out really flat and didn't play well on top of that," said Gaboury.
"After the opening ceremonies it's a long drag-out and then you play your first game and I think that took I think that takes a toll on 11- and 12-year-old kids. There's so much preparation hosting provincials and being around all the kids and seeing it all. It's a pretty unique, once-in-a-lifetime experience for most of these kids, you don't always get that opportunity. But now they've settled in with it and are enjoying it."
In other game results Wednesday, Greater Trail defeated Campbell River 7-6, Cranbrook beat Fort St. John 10-5 and Burnaby shut out Penticton 8-0.
Meanwhile, at the Tier 1 midget provincial championship in Comox, the Prince George Coast Inn of the North Cougars had their title hopes dimmed when they lost 4-0 to Kelowna Wednesday. That dropped the Cougars' record to 3-2, while Kelowna (4-0) remained undefeated.
The Cougars face off today at 11 a.m. against Nanaimo. Seafair (3-0), which beat the Cougars 3-0 on Sunday, played winless Comox in the late game Wednesday.
At the Tier 1 peewee tournament in South Surrey, the Viking Construction Cougars (0-4) were looking for their first win Wednesday against the host team Semiahmoo. The result of that game was not posted on the BC Hockey website.
The Farr Fabricating bantam Tier 1 Cougars (0-3) finished out their tournament in Rutland Wednesday afternoon. Results of that game were not available. North Shore took on Victoria in the championship game Wednesday night.
At the bantam Tier 2 tournament in Cranbrook, the Prince George Players Bench Cougars and Vanderhoof each finished with 1-2 records. The Cougars won their last game Tuesday 5-3 over Trail, while Vanderhoof ended with a 6-5 loss to Kelowna.
