Kadric Mujcin wasn’t watching the WHL Prospects Draft unfold on the internet Thursday morning.
He was too busy doing something he really loves — playing hockey.
Having his favourite sport as part of his course load is one of the perks of attending Grade 9 classes at Prince George Secondary School. When his hometown Prince George Cougars called out his name in the fifth round, 113th overall in Thursdays WHL Prospect Draft, Mujcin had no idea his name was on that list.
PGSS teacher/coach RJ Berra gave him the good news.
When he finally got to his phone, it was blowing up with congratulatory messages and phone calls and before he knew it the battery was dead.
“It was unexpected, a saw them at the rink a few times but I was not expecting it,” said Mujcin. “It’s nice to be drafted by them, I get to stay home and get to stay by my friends and be part of a great organization just from home.
“(The chance to play for the Cougars means) just playing against all the best players my age and above from Western Canada and the States, and just playing at the top level, for sure. I’s been my dream. I’ve been watching the league for a long time.
“I think the Cougars are a pretty aggressive team, they like to finish their hits and they’re coached well, they have good strategies and you can see that just watching their games.”
Mujcin (pronounced moy-chin) led the Cariboo Cougars U15 triple-A squad in scoring with 29 goals and 34 assists for 63 points in just 27 games and his offensive alchemy continued on the playoffs. In six games, he scored eight goals and had 13 points to help the Cougars get to the BC Elite Hockey League championship series, which they lost to Kelowna.
He said being surrounded by a hardworking team that made a surprise run the league final might have helped him get drafted.
“There was a lot of development, we all developed really well, we came along so much from the start of the year just from school hockey with RJ and team practices and we really made a jump to the finals,” Mujcin said. “It wouldn’t have happened without everyone working together and getting along together.”
Standing five-foot-eight and weigh 150 pounds developed a reputation as a hard-hitting left winger who skates well and creates offence.
“I’m physical and I like to finish my hits, I guess I’ve got a lot of heart and some skill to my game,” he said. “I like to find my open teammates in the slot.
“I hope PG likes me.”
Mujcin was the first baby born in Yellowknife, N.W.T. in 2010 and he moved to Prince George when he was four. He’s the first Prince George minor hockey product drafted by the Cougars since Cariboo Cougars defenceman Matthew Magrath was selected in the ninth round in 2017.
His 20-year-old brother Decker just finished his junior career as a forward in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League with the Portage Terriers and is set to play college hockey next season at NAIT.
“We always competed against each other and he actually toughened me up.” said Kadric.
Kadric’s dad Mirsad was head coach of the U15 Cougars this past two seasons and he knew his younger son was generating significant draft interest around the WHL. He spoke to several teams about him, but not the Cougars, which made him think he’d end up with another team.
“I was hoping he’d be moving out,” quipped Mirsad, a WHL centre for two seasons with Tri-City and Regina from 1991-93.
Kadric will be in action this weekend at the Cariboo Cougars U18 tryouts at Kin 3. If he doesn’t make the cut he’ll play for the U17 team.
His former Prince George peewee teammate, centre Logan Henry, was picked in the first round, 23rd overall, by the Regina Pats.
Also on Wednesday the Cougars used their first round, 17th overall pick to select forward Cohen Baker of the Burnaby Winter Club (see other story).
The Prospects Draft resumed Thursday morning after the two-round US Priority Draft. Following are the players the Cougars selected:
WHL Prospects Draft
Second Round (40th overall) - D Anderson Reschny, Macklin, Sask.
Younger brother of Victoria Royals’ potential NHL first-rounder Cole Reschny is a right-handed shot who had nine goals and added 29 assists in 36 games in the CSSHL.
Third Round (63rd overall) - G Kole Anderosov, Campbell River
He just turned 15 on April 24 and already stands six-foot-two and weighs 187 pounds. Playing for the St George's U15 Prep in Vancouver, Anderosov posted an 11-4-0-0 record with a 2.48 goals against average and a .925 save percentage.
Seventh Round (152nd overall, pick acquired in trade from Saskatoon) F Nixon Bettenson, Grande Prairie, Alta.
A prolific scorer with this hometown Grand Prairie Storm, the five-foot-11, 188-pound Bettenson had 28 goals and 54 points in 31 games.
Seventh Round (155th overall) - D Brett Buors, Niverville, Man.
Manitoba native brings six-foot-three, 170-pound size. He collected four goals and 20 points this past season in 36 games playing for the Pilot Mound Academy U15s.
Eighth round 8 (178th overall) - F Kooper Kozmeniuk, Powell River
Limited to just five games this past season with the Powell River Tier 3 U15 Kings, the five-foot-10, 152-pound Kozmeniuk scored 11 goals and had one assist.
US Priority Draft
First round (eighth overall) - F Carson Janko, Highland Village, Texas
Captain of the Dallas Stars Elite 14U team, the five-foot-10, 141-pound Janko put up 39 goals and 89 points in 56 games. He’s the son of Dallas Stars NHL assistant coach Mark Janko.
Second round (40th overall) - D Landon Jackson, Phoenix, Ariz.
Limited to on goal in four regular season games with the Phoenix Jr. Coyotes 14U, the five-foot-10, 152-pound blueliner was an offensive force in the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League playoffs with a goal and two assists.
