Carson Bolduc received his Christmas present early this year.
The Prince George Cougars lone 16-year-old was named to Team Pacific for the 2013 World under-17 Hockey Challenge in Victoriaville and Drummondville, Quebec, from Dec. 29 to Jan. 4.
A native of Salmon Arm, Bolduc joined the Western Hockey League club this season after spending last season with the BCMML Thompson Blazers in Kamloops. Bolduc was selected by the Cougars in the 2011 bantam draft in the third round (59th overall).
In 11 games this season Bolduc has recorded two assists.
Team Pacific won bronze in 2011 when the tournament was held in Winnipeg but was fifth in Windsor, Ont., in 2012.
Last season, the Cougars sent four players to the tournament, Chase Witala played with Team Pacific and Alex Forsberg, Jordan Tkatch and Jarrett Fontaine represented Team West.
Bolduc is the only player the Cougars will send to Quebec but assistant coach Jason Becker will step into the role as head coach for Team Pacific while Cougars assistant general manager and director of player personnel Wade Klippenstein is the head scout for the team.
