New merchandise carts will be rolled out, making it easier for fans to access Cougars gear – photo 250News

Prince George, B.C. – Consider this the first period,  the time when  teams often  try to set the tone for the balance of the game,  the time  when all players  are making moves to  establish their  territory and responsibility.

That is what has been happening with the Prince George Cougars.

Under new ownership, the team is being  rebuilt from the ice  to the front office and this Friday night the  owners and the team have one chance to make a good first impression.

“There were about 12 of us sitting around talking about what would be the first thing we would do if we owned the  team” says Greg Pocock, the President and spokesman for  EDGEPRo Sports and Entertainment, the owners of the  Prince George Cougars. “When it came to me,  they  looked at me and they could tell, I knew exactly what would be the first thing I would do if I owned the team.” Pocock’s eyes twinkled,  a smile spread across his face as he recalled his response  “I would hire Andy Beesley.”

Fast forward, and that is exactly what he did.  Beesley, the former head of arenas for the City of Prince George, and  long time  connection with the Cariboo Cougars has a love of hockey, a mind for marketing, a mind for conflict resolution.  Beesley would take the post as Vice President of Business for the new ownership group.

Pocock is a hockey fan first,  he’s been  a  devoted fan of the Cougars since the day the team first landed in Prince George.  It is that fan  at heart that has  helped shape many of the changes Cougar fans will notice, and some they may not,   when they go to the home opener  this Friday night.

50-50 has changed, it’s going to be mobile and  fans can keep track of the running total of the value of the  jackpot.  It is a new way to sell tickets, a system that cost  about $50 thousand

Equipment for the new 50-50 system

dollars to put in place, and the Cougars  are not  going to make one cent  from it.  Half the pot goes to the ticket holder, the other half to the  50-50 Society which will distribute the winnings to  a number of groups including the Cariboo Cougars.

Fans will see a return of the Post Game Show. It will be staged  on the concourse between sections P and Q on the west side of the CN Centre. “Fans told us they wanted  to have a chance to see the players without their helmets on” says Pocock “so this is a way for them to connect with the team.”  If the  program  becomes popular and outgrows the current  site,  it will be moved to an area large enough to accommodate everyone.  “I want the fan experience to be a positive one” says Pocock.

That fan experience includes an easier access to Cougars merchandise. Two merchandise carts have been purchased and will be placed on the concourse (see photo above)  giving fans easy access to everything from mini-Rowdy Cats to jerseys, caps, flags and anything in between.   The old merchandise store is being renovated and will also be available, but it will have an improved flow through plan.

Something the fans may not see, is the addition of new fibre optic cable  installed from the  press box to the  dressing rooms.  Video recordings will be available instantly for  Coach and team to review plays  on the bench.  It’s an innovation  that is already  sparked  some interest from the NHL.

But Pocock knows the one thing that will fill the seats is a team that wins, and on Wednesday, 250News will focus on the EDGEPRo efforts to deliver on that  element.