After starting their home tournament with 6-4 loss to Kitimat Friday morning Prince George Premium Truck and Trailer Cougars got their wheels in motion in the afternoon game at Kin 1.
They thumped the Quesnel Thunder 10-1 to finish opening day at the five-team Up the Creek Garment Company peewee Tier 2 tournament with 1-1 record.
Cougars coach Alex Patterson admitted the visitors from Kitimat took his team by surprise.
"Kitimat pretty much outworked us today," said Patterson. "It was a learning curve for the kids, they didn't play their best game of the year. We battled back and got some goals but we made some mistakes as well. It was back and forth all game."
James Archibald scored two goals for Kitimat, including the gamewinner, 15:24 into the second period. He added an insurance marker, the only goal of the third period, and assisted on Anthony Ingvallsen's first-period goal. Chase Pacheco led all Kitimat shooters with three goals.
Leighton Pillipow, Caleb Poitras, Dylan Ilett and Joshua Sale were the Prince George goalscorers.
Jasper Tait played in goal for the Cougars, while Logan Tweedy was the goalie of record for Kitimat.
The Cougars have dominated the Cariboo Hockey League's peewee Tier 2 division and had no trouble defeating Quesnel on Friday. "The team came ready to play and really poured it on," said Patterson. "They played Cougar hockey for sure."
Ty Perry led the way offensively with three goals and an assist. Brooklyn Hutchings and Sale each had two goals, while Ilett and Pillipow also scored.
Noah Maki earned the win in goal for the Cougars. Kayle Parker broke up Maki's shutout bid with nine minutes left in the game. Taylor Knott took the loss in the Quesnel nets.
The Cougars will be back on the ice today at Kin 3 at 8:45 a.m. against Williams Lake. They'll face Terrace at 4 p.m. at Kin 2.
The final is set for Sunday at 2 p.m. at Kin 2.
