PENTICTON - The Winnipeg Jets were on the wrong side of an 8-2 score during the first of two games between the Jets rookies and the Vancouver Canucks prospects at the Young Stars Classic in Penticton on Friday night.

Michael Spacek and Jansen Harkins scored for the Jets who trailed 2-0 after 20 minutes. It was in the second when it all fell apart with Vancouver scoring four times in the first ten minutes to chase starting goaltender Mikhail Berdin. Winnipeg native Duncan McGovern replaced Berdin and ended up allowing two goals.

"There's a couple of things I didn't do on purpose," said coach Pascal Vincent. "In season after the third goal there would have been a time out. I didn't do it (because) I wanted to see how we would react as a team."

Video: POSTGAME | Pascal Vincent

"We made some mistakes early in that second period," added Jets defenceman Logan Stanley one of two first round picks in the lineup. "It's a pretty good team over there with some good skill and when you make mistakes they are going to capitalize on them."

Outside of Quinn Hughes, the Canucks brought most of their top prospects to Penticton including the highly touted Elias Petterson who was drafted fifth overall in 2017 and was the MVP of the Swedish Elite League. Petterson had two goals on the night.

"We were playing against a pretty good team," admitted Vincent. "They had three American League defencemen and you could tell. Our defencemen were quite young and were making young decision. That's why we are here. To see those things and coach them."

Video: POSTGAME | Logan Stanley

Kristian Vesalainen made his long-awaited debut for the Jets and ended up with an assist and had three or four good chances to score as the game progressed.

"It was difficult to play in the small rink," said Vesalainen. "But (it was the) first game so hopefully the next one will go a little bit better. I had some good things happen."

Video: POSTGAME | Kristian Vesalainen

Coming over from the European game can be difficult for many players making the transition, Vincent pointed out Vesalainen's countryman Sami Niku had to adjust when he joined the American Hockey League last season. Niku figured it out and ended up taking the top defenceman award in his rookie campaign.

"There was a shift in the third period where he (Vesalainen) created his own space and we saw him going around the defencemen, going around the net," explained Vincent. "So, when he's got space, he's a pretty good player."

The Jets will practice on Saturday and then play their final game of the tournament Sunday afternoon at 4 pm CT.