Peck’s last-minute heroics allow the Cougars to be Giant killers against Vancouver

Talk about letting some ghosts out of your closet.

The Prince George Cougars were spooky in a positive and a negative way to cap off a two-game southern road trip in Langley.

Tre Peck’s game winner with just over a minute remaining in the third period secured a 5-4 victory against the Vancouver Giants on Sunday.

TRE PECK SAYS NO OVERTIME TODAY! COUGS WIN 5-4!

@CarlsJrCA https://t.co/WmOTzHBebw

— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) November 2, 2026

In a span of 60 minutes, fans at the Langley Events Centre were treated to both the Jekyll and Hyde versions of the Cougars in this post-Halloween showdown.

First the good. After Brett Olson notched his first of the season off the glove hand of Cougars goalie, Kason Kobelka, the tide shifted rather sharply – thanks to four unanswered goals.

A Riley Ashe wrap-around snuck past the pad of Vancouver goalie Oliver Bryks as the puck slithered past the short side, evening the score at 1-1.

Kaden Lemire and Jonathan Bitnonti scored twice two minutes apart to give PG a commanding 3-1 lead.

Lemire stepped into the slot off a broken play, firing a blast past Bryks while Bitonti, who is from North Vancouver, executed on a perfect bank shot to leave the home crowd a little dumbfounded at what just happened.

Bitonti has his first career goal from BEHIND the net and adds to the first period onslaught!

@CarlsJrCA https://t.co/L3JgGJbw9N

— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) November 1, 2026

Then off a face-off, newly-acquired blueliner Jace McFaull let a point shot go that bounced off the pads of Bryks and on to the waiting stick of Cole Hajt.

Cole Hajt scores in tight for our FOURTH goal in the first half of the first period!

@CarlsJrCA https://t.co/ip8jjfMKz7

— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) November 1, 2026

Hajt who had three goals all of last season, has four already in 13 games in 2026-27. This would also spell the end of the line for Bryks, who was pulled for Burke Hood.

After a scoreless second, the Cougars resembled the alter-ego of Mr. Hyde – rearing its ugly for quite a long stretch in the final 20 minutes.

A Corbin Vaughan clearing attempt landed on the tap of Olson who found a streaking Joe Iginla who tucked a backhand shot by Kobelka trimming the deficit to 4-2.

Then following a defensive zone face-off, a quick blast by Mathis Preston led to a quick rebound spat out by Kobelka.

The second chance opportunity by Kaleb Hartmann was stopped by the pad but Dennis Emesibe cleaned up the loose change in the crease making it a one-goal game.

Two minutes later, Hartman took a whack and a loose puck on top of the Cougars crease only to see it trickle across the line for a 4-4 tie.

Vancouver outshot the Cougars 32-29. Kobelka made 28 saves in the victory for PG – his first since joining the WHL club via the Vernon Vipers of the BCHL.

SCOUTING REPORT:

If Corbin Vaughan asks you to fight, just say no 😵‍💫💥 https://t.co/JfeekKAOum

— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) November 1, 2026

This was the second straight game where the Cougars blew a 4-1 lead. On Friday, PG fell 5-4 in a shootout against the Wenatchee Wild.

PG improves to 4-7-0-2 and begins a seven-game home stand Wednesday against the Moose Jaw Warriors from CN Centre. Puck drop is at 7pm.

Vancouver on the other hand, still leads the B.C. Division with a 9-4-1-2 mark – one point ahead of the surprising Kamloops Blazers (9-4-2-0).

Earlier in the day, Cougars alum Viliam Kmec was called up by the Vegas Golden Knights from its American Hockey League affiliate in Henderson.

In ten games this season down on the farm, Kmec has three assists. Last season, the 22-year-old Slovakian picked up four goals and 12 assists in 65 regular season games. Vegas is in action tonight (Monday) in Boston against the Bruins.

VILIAM KMEC IS NHL BOUND.

— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) November 1, 2026

Carls Jr. Prince George Highlights! Cougars [5] Giants [4]

@carlsjrca | #ForTheNorth | #WHL https://t.co/uW1lyouNEs

— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) November 2, 2026