Justin Almeida was all smiles Saturday afternoon.
The 15-year-old, whom the Prince George Cougars selected fifth overall in the first round of the 2014 Western Hockey League's bantam draft, was back in town for the first time since his North Shore Winterhawks won the Tier 1 bantam provincial championship in March at Kin 1.
Almeida, who grew up in Kitimat, participated in the Cariboo Cougars evaluation camp, the B.C. Major Midget Hockey League team he'll call home for the 2014-15 season.
"Prince George is awesome," said the five-foot-seven, 130-pound centre after his red team scrimmaged against the gold team Saturday morning at the Coliseum. "I'm looking forward to being back [in Prince George] and I'm excited, I can't wait for the season to begin."
Almeida had a stellar 2013-14 campaign with the North Vancouver-based Winterhawks, where he netted 80 goals and 67 assists for 147 points and 190 penalty minutes in 70 games.
After winning the Tier 1 provincial bantam banner, he and the Winterhawks won the Western Canadian Bantam Championship.
His last game was July 13 during Team B.C.'s under-16 provincial camp in Nanaimo.
Even though summer is technically the off-season, Almeida hasn't been really off the ice, except for dryland training to improve his strength and add some more weight.
"I've managed to put on five pounds over the summer," he said. "I'm keeping my body strong and on the ice I'm working on my stick-handling and shooting."
Almeida was among 100 players at the midget Cats evaluation camp and general manager and head coach Trevor Sprague liked what he saw after several scrimmage games.
"None of them have been on the ice since April but this is part of developing hockey players and seeing what they can bring," said Sprague, whom the WHL Cougars hired as a scout last month. "They're doing an outstanding job. Looking out there our minor hockey associations are doing very well and they're very strong in the north."
Sprague plans to work closer with the WHL Cougars to integrate the two teams and involve them in joint initiatives with minor hockey associations.
He only had high praise for Almeida.
"Justin is a team guy who plays a high-end game," said Sprague, . "He passes the puck and makes people better around him. He could be the Cougars captain when he's 17 or 18. He's highly-talented and explosive and is a 200-foot player and he cares about the other players."
Also at the evaluation camp was Joel Patsey, a six-foot-one 175-pound defenceman from Hazelton who played last season with the Smithers Bantam Tier 2 squad.
The WHL Cougars selected Patsey in the eighth round of the 2014 bantam draft.
"He's a top d-man and has a hammer for a shot," said Sprague. "He can score goals and is a great skater. He had a great coaching staff in Smithers. He's a quiet kid and keeps things close but I've been working with him since April. Out here on the ice he seems way more comfortable now and he should be. It's exciting."
Sprague said the major midget Cougars, who finished sixth overall in the 11-team B.C. Major Midget League with a record of 17-21-2 before bowing out in the quarter-finals to Langley-based Fraser Valley Hawks, have to replace half the team going into the 2014-15 campaign.
Some tough decisions will have to be made this year.
"Bryan [co-coach] McLean did a great job last season and laid the foundation to what we've got now," said Sprague. "We work very well together and we're looking forward to a stronger year from both of us."
Almeida is eligible to play five games with the WHL Cougars next season.
The Cariboo Cougars will hold their main camp Aug. 29.
