Cougars Begin Season in Style with 4-1 Win Over Penticton
PRINCE GEORGE, BC –The Prince George Cougars opened the 2026–27 season with a 4–1 win over the Penticton Vees on Friday at the CN Centre.
Tre Peck scored twice in his WHL debut, while Lee Shurgot added a goal and two assists. Alexander Levshyn made 29 saves in the Cougars’ net.
Peck opened the scoring on the power play at 8:19 of the first period, with Townes Kozicky and Shurgot drawing assists. The Cougars killed off two penalties in the period and took a 1–0 lead into the intermission.
Prince George doubled its lead 2:34 into the second when Riley Ashe sent the puck toward the net and it deflected off a Penticton player past goaltender Reyelts. Peck struck again on the power play at 11:58, finishing a cross-ice pass from Shurgot. The Vees answered at 13:01, sending the Cougars into the second intermission ahead 3–1.
Penticton pressed in the third, but Levshyn and the Cougars’ penalty killers held firm. Prince George also got key blocked shots from several skaters, including Arsenii Anisimov and Corbin Vaughan. Shurgot sealed the win with an empty-net goal at 19:54. The Cougars kick off the campaign 1-0, and will look to sweep home opening rivalry weekend tomorrow at 6:00 pm at the CN Centre.
POST GAME AUDIO:
GENERAL MANAGER & HEAD COACH MARK LAMB
COUGARS GOALTENDER ALEXANDER LEVSHYN
