Hunter Floris's final weekend with the Cariboo Cougars was a painful episode.
While the Cougars' season was ending with an elimination loss to the Fraser Valley Thunderbirds in the B.C. Hockey Major Midget League final at Kin 1, Floris was recovering in hospital after having his appendix removed that morning.
Floris wasn't on hand for his team's final game but he certainly left his mark in his final season of midget hockey. His 36 goals was a league high. He put up 58 points in 38 regular-season games and was on a point-per-game pace in the playoffs with four goals and six points in five games.
The Cowichan Valley Capitals obviously liked what they saw and have signed the 18-year-old winger from Vanderhoof to play next season in the B.C. Hockey League.
Former Cougars defenceman Joel Patsey has also been recruited to the BCHL and has signed with the Langley Rivermen. Patsey, who turns 19 on May 16, just capped off a productive season playing for the 100 Mile House Wranglers of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League. The native of Hazelton collected 10 goals and 28 points in 46 regular-season games and had three goals and seven assists in 11 playoff games.
Patsey was called up for one BCHL game with the Merritt Centennials on Dec. 12 and scored a goal in a 5-3 win over the Trail Smoke Eaters.
Patsey, who played three seasons of midget hockey for the Cougars from 2014-17, represented the Wranglers in the KIJHL Top Prospects Game Jan. 13 in Kelowna.
