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Cougars send O'Rourke to Spruce Kings

From Cougar to Spruce King, Ethan O'Rourke knows he's staying put in Prince George for the rest of the hockey season.
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From Cougar to Spruce King, Ethan O'Rourke knows he's staying put in Prince George for the rest of the hockey season.

The 17-year-old forward has been reassigned to the Spruce Kings from the Cougars, the second player this season the Kings have acquired from the Western Hockey League team.

O'Rourke, the son of Cougars associate coach Steve, played in 19 WHL games this season and had a goal and an assist. He has had a Prince George address since August 2015, when he came north from his native Penticton to play for the major midget Cariboo Cougars.

In 30 games for the Cariboo Cats last season he had seven goals and 16 points and also picked up a goal and three assists in seven playoff games. The six-foot-five, 199-pound O'Rourke becomes the 13th forward on the Kings' roster, which was finalized Tuesday with the arrival of the trade deadline.

"Ethan will be a good addition to our group," said Spruce Kings general manager Mike Haws.

"He's a big-bodied young player who will add more depth to an already deep group of forwards. He moves well for a big player and has the ability to be a very effective player for us."

In October, the Cougars sent 18-year-old goalie Tavin Grant to the Spruce Kings. Grant has since taken over the starting job in goal, displacing 19-year-old Stefan Wornig, who has been sidelined for the rest of the season due to a chronic condition.

O'Rourke made his B.C. Hockey League debut Wednesday night at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena, where the Spruce Kings hosted the Vernon Vipers.