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 he won't be the only one with a Prince George connection. Cougars assistant coach Jason Becker will step into the role as head coach for Team Pacific while the club's assistant general manager and director of player personnel Wade Klippenstein was named head scout for the team.
Young cats
With the Cariboo Cougars on their BCMML bye week Brad Morrison was skating in practice with the Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League. Morrison was selected by the Cougars seventh overall in the 2012 bantam draft.
Prince George head coach Dean Clark said with the bye week it's a good opportunity to introduce the 15-year-old to major junior hockey, adding Morrison could see his first regular-season action in the WHL this week.
"There's a good possibly," said Cougars head coach Dean Clark. "We'll certainly have the ability to play him if we feel we need to. He'll get some games in here sometime."
Jansen Harkins, the Cougars top pick (second overall) in the 2012 bantam draft, played his first WHL game Sunday in Vancouver.
"I put him into some pretty major roles as far as playing with Alex Forsberg and, Zach Pochiro at the end," said Clark about Harkins play in the 4-3 loss. "He played on some power plays. He didn't look out of place. I thought he made some great plays and some great decisions."
Harkins plays with the Vancouver NW Giants of the BCMML.
