Jesse Forsberg had his wish granted when the Prince George Cougars traded their captain Friday to the Seattle Thunderbirds.
"It's a new opportunity for me and I'm really excited to go down there to Seattle," said Forsberg.
The 19-year-old defenceman played in three Western Hockey League seasons for the Cougars, scoring nine goals and tallying 36 assists in 170 games and 379 penalty minutes. In exchange for Forsberg and two 2013 draft picks (fifth and seventh rounds) the Cougars will receive 19-year-old forward Coin Jacobs, a fourth-round draft pick of the Buffalo Sabres in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.
Forsberg said he'll miss playing with his younger brother Alex - the first overall pick in the 2009 WHL Bantam Draft by the Cougars - but making the split may be better for his career.
"We're both individuals so I'll get to play against him," said Forsberg. "I've got a career here to and I'm going to try and do what I can down there. I think a change of scenery is going to be really good for me.
"I don't think I progressed the way I should've in P.G," he added. "I think in my game I could've been a lot better. It's a blank sheet for me and I get a chance to improve and start over new."
Cougars general manager Dallas Thompson said he wrestled with Forsberg's request to be moved all summer but the chance to obtain Jacobs was too good to pass up.
"When you really look at it if this deal is presented to us we would've done it anyway," said Thompson. "With Alex being here, I think it's probably good to split the guys up and it fills a need upfront with an older forward that's a bigger player."
Jacobs, a native of Coppell, TX, has played in 186 games for the T-birds recording 44 goals and 89 points. The six-foot-two, 204 pound forward should bring depth to the Cougars offensive corps, who had the lowest goals for in the WHL last season at 166.
"This will give a little breathing room to the 95s, the 16-year-old's, that we had last year and not put so much pressure on them this year to score," said Thompson.
One-third of the Cougars' starting lineup last season was in their 16-year-old season. The Cougars finished 21st overall, out of 22 teams, and last in the Western Conference with a 24-46-0-2 record.
Jacobs' best season came in 2010-11 when he had 22 goals and 44 points in 68 games. Last season he produced 19 points, including nine goals, in 44 games.
In the T-birds' statement on the trade it's indicated Jacobs was also looking for a fresh start.
The traded players will get their first taste of action against their former teammates Friday, Sept. 28 at CN Centre in the Cougars home opener.
Cougars notes: The Cougars players should be back in Prince George for the team's alumni hospital pro-am golf tournament, Aug. 16 and 17 at the P.G. Golf and Curling Club. Training camp begins Aug. 24.
