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Cougars seeking stability in new general manager

Like a stay-at-home defenceman, Prince George Cougars co-owner Eric Brewer refrained from venturing very far up the ice when he spoke on behalf of the team Tuesday about the decision to part ways with general manager Todd Harkins.
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Like a stay-at-home defenceman, Prince George Cougars co-owner Eric Brewer refrained from venturing very far up the ice when he spoke on behalf of the team Tuesday about the decision to part ways with general manager Todd Harkins.

Brewer maintained a cautious tone throughout an interview the morning after EDGEPRo Sports and Entertainment Ltd., the group that owns the Western Hockey League team, announced it will not be renewing their contract with Harkins, after four years on the job.

"I think that looking at our situation, looking at the timing of Todd's expiring contract and where the ownership group felt we are and where we want to go, the timing was now," he said.

But Brewer did suggest the group will be looking for someone who can help put the team on more stable footing after the roller coaster that was the past two seasons under Harkins' guidance.

Last season, the Cougars captured the WHL's B.C. Division banner but were quickly bounced out of the playoffs - extending Harkins' streak of first-round bow outs to three.

And by Christmas this season, the Cougars were for all intents and purposes out of the post-season picture. Apparently accepting the inevitable, Harkins dealt away most of the club's key players at the January trading deadline as he worked to recover draft picks he gave up last season to make a run at the league championship.

"I think we evaluated our team properly, I think we made the necessary adjustments and we're in a process where we believe we need to be a little patient and bring in some young players and develop these players into strong Western Hockey League players and hopefully pro players," Brewer said.

"But we need to build the depth up in our organization and make sure that we can go from cycle to cycle to cycle and remain competitive and not have big drop offs."

Brewer said he's not interested in taking on the job and that the sooner someone can be found, the better. Beyond that, he said the team may need to be flexible as it goes shopping.

"Sometimes those parameters you put in place change a little bit because they need to and it will be interesting to see what we come up with and how we get through the process and the timeframe that it takes," Brewer said.

The jobs of the team's coaching staff, headed by Richard Matvichuk, remain safe for now.

"We're going to be looking for a new GM, our coaching staff will remain in place, and our new person will get a chance to evaluate our staff in the coming season," Brewer said.