The Prince George Cougars skated to their first victory of the Western Hockey League preseason Thursday afternoon in Kennewick, Wa.
The Cougars won a neutral-site game against the Everett Silvertips 4-2. A quick start was the key for the Cats, who had a 3-1 lead after the first period.
Kody McDonald got things started with a goal at the 3:02 mark of the opening frame when he fired a wrist shot over the glove of Everett goalie Carter Hart. A little more than eight minutes later, Brogan O'Brien scored a shorthanded marker for the Cougars. The Silvertips got one back, courtesy of Matt Fonteyne, but Prince George's Max Martin restored the two-goal cushion before the period was done.
The Silvertips carried the play in the second period and outshot the Cougars 16-5. But, starting goaltender Mack Shields was rock-steady and after he traded off with Tavin Grant half way through the period, Grant was equally strong and the score remained 3-1 through 40 minutes.
In the third, Everett pulled into a 3-2 deficit on a power-play goal by Devon Skoleski at 8:23. A power-play tally by Zach Goberis at 16:01 sealed the win for the Cougars, who were outshot 38-25.
With the result, the Cougars improved their exhibition record to 1-2-0-1.
Thursday's game was the second in less than 24 hours for the Cougars. On Wednesday night in Kennewick, they fell 3-2 to the Portland Winterhawks. Goberis and Justin Almeida scored for the Cats, while Brett Clayton, Cody Glass and Prince George product Austin Gray - a former member of the Cariboo Cougars - did the damage for the Winterhawks.
In the nets, Patrick Gora surrendered all three Portland goals before he gave way to Ty Edmonds part way through the second period. Edmonds stopped all 13 shots he faced. At the other end of the ice, Adin Hill went the distance for the Winterhawks, who were outshot 34-28.
Next up for the Cougars is a game against the Kootenay Ice on Saturday (11 a.m. start) in Kennewick.
Also on Thursday, the Cougars reassigned forwards Jackson Leppard and Tyler Ho and defenceman Jonas Harkins to their respective midget teams. The Cats selected all three players in the 2015 WHL bantam draft.
General manager Todd Harkins was impressed with how well the trio of youngsters handled themselves during training camp and preseason.
"They showed poise, patience and confidence throughout the preseason and fit right in with our veterans," he said.
With Thursday's moves, the Cougars' roster sits at 33 players: 19 forwards, 10 defencemen and four goaltenders.
