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Harkins gets GM nod

Todd Harkins can now take the interim tag off his general manager title with the Prince George Cougars.
Cats coaches and Harkins
From left, Prince George Cougars assistant coach Mike Hengen, new general manager Todd Harkins and head coach Mark Holick.

Todd Harkins can now take the interim tag off his general manager title with the Prince George Cougars.

The Cougars promoted Harkins from the interim GM role to the WHL team's general manager in a move that was announced Tuesday morning outside the Cats locker room at CN Centre.

"He is one of the bright young minds of hockey," said Cougars president Greg Pocock. "We wanted a dedicated general manager that's dedicated to Prince George, to our players, to our fans and to our staff. We wanted someone who can identify talent and is dedicated to promoting Prince George and who is also an ambassador - knows what Cougars hockey is and is dedicated to bringing a championship."

Harkins spent the last season as the Cougars head scout and director of player personnel. 

Hiring a general manager has been on the new ownership group's (EDGEPRO Sports and Entertainment) to-do list, a position that's been vacant since May 1 when former GM Dallas Thompson's contract wasn't renewed.

Pocock said 17 people expressed their interest in the GM role. The Cougars talked to eight of them, interviewed five of them and short-listed two of them.

"I want to create a culture of winning," said Harkins. "We have some outstanding prospects and we can compete with size, speed and skill. I'm determined to bring a winning atmosphere to CN Centre.

"We can build by finding the right players, kids who can skate with speed and want to compete."

Harkins becomes the Cougars fifth GM in the team's 20-year history in Prince George. He signed a four-year contract with another year as an option. Terms of the deal were not disclosed.