PRINCE GEORGE, B.C. -- New Brunswick delivered a big scare to the host team, but B.C. pulled through when it mattered.

Third-period goals from defencemen Conner McDonald and Jarret Tyska wiped out a one-goal deficit and Justin Almeida added an empty-netter as B.C. hung on to defeat New Brunswick 5-3 Sunday in men's hockey at the Canada Winter Games.

The comeback started six minutes into the third when McDonald rushed the net and put home a rebound off the stick of teammate Owen Hardy.

Tyska then gave B.C. the lead at 10:35 with a long shot that fooled goaltender Jack Ryan.

The teams were tied 1-1 after the first period despite a 13-5 shot advantage for B.C.

Jordy Bellerive opened the scoring on a B.C. power play at 2:30, burying a pass from Almeida. But Michael Cyr got that one back for New Brunswick on a 5-on-3 power play.

The second period began ominously for B.C. when New Brunswick broke into the offensive zone on a 2-on-0. But defenceman Nolan Kneen timed his dive well to knock the puck away and Bellerive got sprung on an odd-man rush with Brendan Semchuk. Bellerive fed the pass over, Semchuk returned the favour and Bellerive picked the corner high with a one-timer.

New Brunswick, led Peyton Hoyt, answered back with two quick goals to take a 3-2 lead into the second intermission.

Hoyt spotted Cyr in the face-off circle and put a pass right on his stick for his second goal, at the 8:02 mark.

Sloppy coverage by the B.C. defence led to the go-ahead goal at 10:46. Hoyt showed great anticipation to watch the play develop and passed across the crease to Samuel Leblanc, who wristed a shot past Jordan Hollett. Hoyt finished the game with three assists.

Also in opening-day action, Ontario beat Manitoba 5-3, Newfoundland/Labrador hammered the Northwest Territories 11-0, Alberta toppled Saskatchewan 4-1, Prince Edward Island easily got past the Yukon 13-0 and Quebec downed Nova Scotia 6-1.