The goals came in pairs on Wednesday night at the Cranbrook Rec Plex.

Unfortunately for the Kootenay Ice, not enough of them went the home team?s way; the Prince George Cougars scored into an empty net for a 6-3 win in their once-every-two-years trip to Cranbrook.

Kootenay head coach Kris Knoblauch said the Ice suffered for not battling from puck drop to final buzzer.

?In the second period we generated plays, we had 14 shots. We simplified, got pucks to the net and created our goals from second chances. Other times I don?t think we did that,? he said.

Ice rookie goalie Brett Teskey didn?t have an easy start to his WHL career, with Prince George getting off its first shot 10 seconds into the game.

Teskey faced 14 shots in the opening frame, bested by a couple from the Cougars? second line.

Spencer Asuchak struck for the net, one-timed a corner feed and knocked in his own second chance at 5:27.

Linemate Charles Inglis ? who set up the opening goal ? got into the act himself on a rush 23 seconds later, punching in a rebound.

Knoblauch was impressed with Teskey?s poise in adversity.

?He let in five goals (last night) but he didn?t have much chance on a couple of those,? said Knoblauch.

?He was very composed. He wasn?t kicking out rebounds, he was gathering them up. Unfortunately I don?t think we gave him enough help, especially our defence. In front of the net, our defence were backing up, giving up quality shots. A couple of times we were just outmuscled in front of the net.?

The Ice got into the game in quick fashion, scoring a pair just over a minute apart midway through the game.

Drew Czerwonka scored with two seconds remaining on a power play at 10:56, one-timing the puck after Jesse Ismond had dragged it from the blueline to the goalline.

Kootenay drew even the next shift with a coast-to-coast play on a delayed penalty call.

The puck got out to Joe Antilla at the P.G. blueline and he dashed in, depositing a hard shot off the near corner post and in.

Knoblauch said it was nice to see Antilla making use of his excellent shot, which came close to striking a couple more times.

?He passes up a lot of opportunities to shoot,? said the coach. ?(Last night) in the first period he didn?t shoot a couple of times when he should have. Second period, the first chance he had, he scores. We?re trying to encourage those guys to shoot.

?They?re always looking for a better shot and a lot of times there (isn?t one) so we need to think first of attack.?

As busy as Teskey was in the opening frame, his next shot didn?t come until about three minutes remained in the second.

That sparked the third burst of goals. This time, they came 15 seconds apart with the teams swapping tallies.

Prince George got the first with Troy Bourke scoring on a rebound at 17:22.

Max Reinhart tied the game again after several whacks at the puck at the right post.

Teskey?s best save came early in the third period when he used his glove to stymie Greg Fraser on a breakaway.

Prince George pulled ahead on a power play at 8:35 of the third (see related story) when Taylor Makin shot through a crowd.

They got up two at 10:54 when James Dobrowolski scored his first of the season.

Led by Tampa Bay Lightning prospect Brett Connolly?s three assists, Knoblauch said Prince George?s aggressive play was no surprise.

?They?ve got a good team and they?ve got two very good, dangerous lines. They play an aggressive game and I thought they were a lot hungrier (last night) for that win than we were,? he said.