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Cougars sign rookie goaltender Holtvogt

WHL season starts tonight and Cats without their two returning goalies; rookie Mulawka will get the nod to start against Americans
Madden Mulawka mug
Rookie Madden Mulawka is expected to get his first career WHL start in goal tonight when the Prince George Cougars open their season against the Tri-City Americans at CN Centre.

With their two drafted goalies still involved in NHL camps this weekend, the Prince George Cougars had to call in a reinforcement.

On Friday afternoon, hours before the puck drops on the new season, the Cougars announced they’ve signed 15-year-old goaltender Brady Holtvogt to a WHL Standard Player Agreement.

Holtvogt, a native of Humboldt, Sask., picked by the Cougars in the sixth round of the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft, has been called up from the Prince Albert Mintos U-18 team.

Last season he played 23 games for the Humboldt Broncos U15s and posted a 3.03 goals-against average and .915 save percentage.

Holtvogt is expected to be in a Cougars uniform when they face off tonight (7 p.m.) in their season-opener at CN Centre against the Tri-City Americans - the first of a weekend doubleheader.

“Brady is one of the top young goalies in Saskatchewan and he has a lot of potential,” said Cougars’ director of scouting Bob Simmonds. “He is a strong competitor, and he gives his team a chance to win every time he’s in the net. Getting Brady signed solidifies our goaltending depth as we look ahead to the future. We are very happy to welcome Brady and his family to the Prince George Cougars.”

The two Cougar incumbents in goal, Tyler Brennan (New Jersey Devils) and Ty Young (Vancouver Canucks) are still committed to their NHL teams and will not be available for either game in Prince George this weekend.

Madden Mulawka, a 16-year-old rookie from Edmonton will get the start in goal for the Cats. Mulawka allowed just one goal in two preseason wins over the Kamloops Blazers last weekend.

Cougar fans are invited to the team’s tailgate party in the CN Centre parking lot, which started at 3:30 p.m.

The Americans and Cougars play again Saturday starting at 6 p.m.