When training camp convenes for the Prince George Cougars on Aug. 29 Chase Witala won't be sticking around long.
Eleven days into the Cats' preseason, Witala will be on his way to Traverse City, Mich., for the NHL Prospects Tournament, where he'll be sporting a Dallas Stars jersey.
The 20-year-old winger learned two days after the NHL draft in June the Stars were interested and wanted him to attend their rookie camp. For Witala, who went undrafted, the invitation was a belated reward for the hard work he put in last season when he led the Cougars in goal scoring with 38 and finished second on the team in points with 69.
"It should be fun to go down there, it's going to be a learning experience for sure," said Witala, a native of Prince George. "I was pretty happy with my season and it's a nice little reward and I just want to build off it in my last season here. Hopefully I'll make a good impression there and get a pro contract."
Witala has been skating five days a week for the past month and trains regularly in the weight room and says he's added eight to 10 pounds. He now packs 180 pounds on a five-foot-11 frame.
"It's nice to have a bit more weight, I feel a little bigger and I have more confidence so that's a good boost for me," he said.
Cougars general manager Todd Harkins says Witala's inclusion in an NHL camp is an example for all junior players bypassed in the draft that it's never too late to make a good impression on the pro scouts who come to watch them play.
"There were a few NHL teams that recognized his season last year and it's great that Dallas has stepped forward to invite him to camp," said Harkins.
"That's what we're trying to do with our organization, to try to get these kids opportunities to move on in their hockey careers and it's a great first step for Chase to showcase his talents to the NHL brass. We've done a really good job to keep those kids in the limelight so they're seen by a lot of NHL scouts."
Witala leaves for Traverse City on Sept. 9 along with three other Cougars, who will play against him in the Prospects tournament. Joining Witala on that flight will be C Brad Morrison (a fourth-round pick of the New York Rangers in the 2015 draft), D Sam Ruopp (Columbus Blue Jackets, fifth round, 2015), and LW Jared Bethune (undrafted, invited to Minnesota Wild camp).
Two former Cougars will also likely play in the Traverse City tournament - C Zach Pochiro (St. Louis Blues) and D Marc McNulty (Detroit Red Wings, via Kamloops Blazers). Chicago and Carolina are the other teams involved in the tournament.
Two other Cougars, C Jansen Harkins and D Tate Olson, will head to Penticton for the Young Guns tournament, Sept. 11-14. Harkins will play for the Winnipeg Jets, who selected him in the second round in 2015, while Olson will suit up for the Vancouver Canucks, who made him a seventh-rounder in 2015. They also leave Sept. 9.
LW Jesse Gabrielle, acquired Monday by the Cougars in a trade with the Brandon Wheat Kings, was a fourth-round pick of the Boston Bruins this year. Gabrielle leaves Prince George Sept. 9 for a mini-tournament Buffalo, where the Bruins will have their rookie camp and will play Sabres and New Jersey Devils.
