Jameson Jones remembers the first time the Cariboo Cougars visited him five years ago.
He was a young patient at B.C. Children's Hospital undergoing treatment for brain cancer.
"It really felt good to have someone who made me feel part of the team," said Jones Saturday night. "It's kind of cool they do this every year. It's really good to do."
Jones, now, 11, dropped the puck in an opening face-off prior to the Cougars' battle with the Kootenay Ice in a B.C. Major Midget Hockey League regular season game at Kin 1 arena.
It was the fifth annual Jameson Jones night where the Cougars raised $1,515.76 in donations for B.C. Children's Hospital.
Jones had just turned five in 2011 when he was diagnosed with brain cancer. He spent six months at B.C. Children's where he underwent treatment which included removing the malignant tumour.
That's when the Cougars players visited the Jones in the Vancouver-based hospital during a road trip.
Two years later Jones spent three months at B.C. Children's where he successfully underwent a stem cell transplant.
Soon after, Jones returned to Prince George. He's now in Grade 6 at Hart Highlands elementary.
Since their first visit five years ago, the Cats have raised thousands of dollars through Jameson Jones night for B.C. Children's and to help local families who've had to travel back and forth to Vancouver for treatment.
"The Cougars have donated a lot of money and I feel pretty proud of that," said Jones.
Also on hand to drop the puck was 11-year-old Cameron Pinette of Williams Lake who nearly drowned in an accident 10 years ago.
He spent three-and-a-half months at B.C. Children's recuperating and also has a connection to the Cougars.
"Chase Dubois (Cougars forward) is our adopted son who Cameron looks up to," said Leigh Pinette, Cameron's mom, Saturday.
In addition to honouring Jones and Pinette prior to Saturday's game, the Cougars also raised their Mac's Midget Championship banner to the rafters at Kin 1.
The Cougars won the prestigious tournament in Calgary on New Year's Day with a 2-1 double-overtime victory over the Regina Pat Canadians.
