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Cougars bet future on Saskatchewan boys

Alex Forsberg has big goals for his first WHL season with the Prince George Cougars.

Alex Forsberg has big goals for his first WHL season with the Prince George Cougars.

"My goal is not just to make it, but to be a contributing member of the team this year," said the Forsberg, selected by the Cougars first overall in the 2010 bantam draft.

A highly skilled offensive player, Forsberg turned heads playing as an underager in the Saskatchewan Midget Hockey League for the Beardy's Blackhawks two seasons ago. Last year, his second with the Blackhawks, Forsberg put up 16 goals and 35 points in 23 games. A shoulder injury sidelined the 16 year old around Christmas.

After his first skate at the CN Centre Friday, along with his Team Chara training camp teammates, Forsberg said, it felt good.

"I need to work on passing a little bit more, but it was a good first practice to get my legs moving," he said about his second camp with the Cougars. "It's a lot better than last year in just knowing what to expect."

One thing will make moving from Waldheim, Sask., to Prince George easier is knowing his brother Jesse is a veteran defenceman with the Cougars.

"It helps a lot, because I always have someone I know I can talk to whenever and that I can relate to," said the rookie forward. "He's given me lots of tips on just working hard at practice because that's when the coach is going to be watching you to see what you're like. He just told me to be a practice player to."

Forsberg played five regular season games with the Cougars last season - the maximum he was allowed as a 15 year old - and suited up for three playoff games against the Kelowna Rockets, notching his first WHL post-season goal.

The Cougars first-round bantam pick in 2011, defenceman Jordan Harris [10th overall] had the nerves Forsberg experienced at last season's training camp before hitting the ice Friday.

"Just to get the nerves out before the games start coming and get a feel for the ice and the guys is good," said Harris.

The 15 year old said he was pleasantly surprised when the Cougars drafted him, because he assumed when Prince Albert was announced it would surely be for one of his many skilled teammates from the bantam AA Prince Albert Pirates last season.

"[When] they said defenceman Jordan Harris, I just jumped up and gave my dad and mom a hug," said Harris.

The Pirates dominated their bantam league last season, losing only a pair of games, and were crowned league and provincial champion. Harris said playing on such a high-calibre team had its benefits.

"I think us having such a strong team [last] year helped a lot for me in getting stronger, because in practices it's tougher playing against the elite guys on the team," he said. "It helped me with my foot speed and aggressiveness because it's harder to knock the puck off their sticks."

The six-foot Harris will eventually head back to Saskatchewan where he'll try to make the SMHL Prince Albert Mintos, but his goal is to garner an invite back to Prince George for the five WHL games he's allowed.

"I just want to do my best and play my game, because that's what got me here," said Harris. "Hopefully, I do good in this camp and it carries on through the season and I get brought up."

SCRATCHES: Brett Connolly isn't in camp this weekend due to a NHLPA event in Toronto. Connolly, who signed an entry-level deal with the Tampa Bay Lightning on Aug. 3, is expected back in Prince George next week. Defenceman Jesse Forsberg is at camp, but not on the ice as he's still recovering from surgery due to a shoulder injury he sustained last season.

The four teams get their first taste of game action today, starting with Team Chara vs. Team Setoguchi at 9 a.m. The veterans hit the ice at 6 p.m. in a scrimmage between Team Byfuglien vs. Team Hamhuis.

Both Cougar first-round picks will be on the ice this morning for Team Chara and then Sunday at 7 p.m. for the Young Guns game.