Former Burnaby Winter Club product Anthony Ast took a Giant step Friday night.
The 2010 first-round bantam pick of the Vancouver Giants scored the first goal of the Giants season as the hometown squad beat the visiting Victoria Royals 5-2 at the Pacific Coliseum.
Ast took a nifty pass from Cain Franson at 18: 22 of the first period and beat Braden Gamble for the only marker of the first period.
The Giants would go on to get markers from Marek Tvrdon, Franson, Jordan Martinook and Dalton Sward, while the Royals, who are led by former Burnaby Winter Club star and Buffalo Sabres draft pick Kevin Sundher, got goals from Steven Hodges and Robin Soudek.
The Royals played their first game after relocating from Chilliwack earlier this year.