First Jared Bethune and Brogan O'Brien, now Aaron Boyd.
The Prince George Cougars are three-for-three at advancing their 20-year-olds into the professional hockey ranks.
Boyd signed a amateur tryout contract with the Rapid City Rush of the ECHL, the WHL team announced Friday. Selected in the 2012 WHL bantam draft by the Cougars in the second round, 43rd overall, Boyd turned in a career year in his final season with the Cats. In 68 games he collected 14 goals and 38 points in 2017-18.
In a four-season career that spanned 251 regular-season games the native of Winnipeg totaled 34 goals, 50 assists and 84 points. He also picked up three goals in 18 playoff games.
The Rush are based in Rapid City S.D., and are affiliated with the Minnesota Wild. Rapid City hosts the Quad City Mallards in a weekend doubleheader.
Boyd is the third Cougars player to sign a professional contract in the ECHL in the last two weeks, joining fellow 20-year-olds Bethune and O'Brien.
"Aaron has earned this opportunity with his dedication and hard work over his four years with this organization," said Cougars head coach Richard Matvichuk. "He plays the game the right way and has developed into a very dependable two-way forward. I couldn't be happier for him."
Bethune and O'Brien both signed right after the season ended two weeks ago. O'Brien went to the Kansas City (Missouri) Mavericks, the Calgary Flames affiliate, while Bethune ended up with the Allen (Texas) Americans, whose parent club is the San Jose Sharks.
In O'Brien's pro debut March 24 in Allen, Texas, the Prince George native collected a goal and an assist in a 6-1 win over the Americans. That was Bethune's third game with the Americans and he was held off the scoresheet. Four nights later Bethune, a native of Fort Frances, Ont., earned his first pro points, picking up two assists in a 4-1 win over the Wichita Thunder.
Willick signs with Worcester
In other ECHL news, right winger Dylan Willick signed an ECHL contract with the Worcester (Massachusetts) Railers, the New York Islanders affiliate. Willick just capped off a successful career in U Sports as captain of the University of New Brunswick Varsity Reds. In five seasons with the Reds, Willick totaled 28 goals and 30 assists for 58 points and a plus-45 rating. He finished tied for the all-time team record for most games played (138), leading the Reds to the University Cup national title in 2016 and 2017. The Reds won the Atlantic University Sport championship this season and went on to claim bronze at the University Cup tournament in Fredericton, N.B.
Willick played a year of major midget hockey with the Cariboo Cougars (2008-09) before moving on to the WHL with the Kamloops Blazers. In four seasons and 266 games with the Blazers he collected 80 goals, 77 assists and 157 points. He was the captain of the Blazers in 2012-13.
Two other former Cougars, centre Zach Pochiro and centre Spencer Asuchak, play for the Americans. Through 37 games, the 25-year-old Pochiro is on a point-per-game pace with 17 goals and 20 assists. The St. Louis, Mo., native played two seasons for the Cougars from 2012-14.
Asuchak, 27, has 12 goals and 18 assists for 30 points in 51 games. The Kamloops native played three seasons for the Cougars from 2009-12.
