(Youngsters prepare game signs while Kirk McLean meets with fans Saturday.  Photos 250 News)

Prince George, B.C. – There is likely not much that could be more Canadian than spending part of a day at the rink watching a hockey game.

And there are at least four thousand and fourty-two Prince George residents who must agree with that sentiment, because that was the announced attendance at CN Centre for Saturday’s Hockey Day in Canada events that took place before and during the Western Hockey League game between the Prince George Cougars and the Edmonton Oil Kings.

The festivities here coincided with Hockey Day events across the country which were reported on by a CBC crew that was set up in Lloydminster.  The day-long broadcast featured cut-ins from Prince George, Barry’s Bay, Ontario and Sydney, Nova Scotia.  The Cougars organization brought former standout Vancouver Canuck goalie Kirk McLean into town to sign autographs, have pictures taken with fans and to take part in the game’s opening ceremonies.

As well, fans were given bright red Hockey Day in Canada toques to wear as they walked into the arena.  And there were toques galore adorning many of the heads in the crowd, that is until veteran forward Todd Fiddler scored his hat trick goal on the afternoon in the second period resulting in some of the headware being tossed onto the ice in celebration.

The fans had lots to cheer about during the hotly-contested game on Saturday.  The hometown team held period leaders of 4-1 and 6-2 in a much improved performance compared to Friday night when they were humbled by the Oil Kings 8 to goose egg.  The Cougars played solid hockey for two periods and let their more experienced opponents know in no uncertain terms that they weren’t about to take Friday’s loss lying down.   The only problem was that they gave an inch and the Oil Kings took a mile in the third period, scoring four unanswered goals to tie the game at 6.  Four-on-four overtime solved nothing and the visitors notched the lone goal in the shootout to walk out of town with a pair of weekend victories.  The game Saturday was full of intensity and got a little heated at times.  And, if you think hockey fans here don’t like to see a good scrap, you might want to think again.

The Cougars’ front office put on an entertaining show from start to finish and promoted some fan involvement, giving a few fans a chance to grab some loonies and toonies in the Dash for Cash contest in the first intermission.  That was followed between the second and third periods by the Chuck-a-Puck contest in which fans had an opportunity to win gift cards which can be used at some local restaurants.

Hockey Day in Canada, Prince George style, turned out to be a huge success with the largest crowd at a Cougars’ game in recent years.  And the WHL might want to consider adding more games during the day on weekends.  More than one person was heard saying they wished there were more afternoon games so the whole family could take in a game.