Three of the newest prospects of the Prince George Cougars have been asked to attend an elite hockey development camp led by former NHL forward Gary Roberts.
Jansen Harkins, Brad Morrison and Tate Olson -- all of whom were selected by the Cougars in the recent WHL bantam draft -- are among 42 players from across the country who received invitations to the second annual Allstate All-Canadians Mentorship Camp, July 17-21 in Mississauga, Ont.
"It's an exciting time for us when one of our prospects, let alone three, receive national recognition," said Wade Klippenstein, assistant general manager and director of player personnel for the Cats. "Last year, we had Jordan Harris invited to this event and he got a lot from it. This year, to have three named is very exciting not only for the organization but also for the three families involved."
Harkins and Morrison are high-scoring forwards, while Olson is a hard-rock blueliner.
The Cougars chose Harkins, a North Vancouver product, third overall in the bantam draft. Morrison, a West Kelowna resident originally from Prince George, was the team's seventh-overall pick and Olson was a second-rounder (24th overall). He's from Saskatoon.
Roberts is best-known for his days with the Calgary Flames. He also skated for the Carolina Hurricanes, Toronto Maple Leafs, Florida Panthers, Pittsburgh Penguins and Tampa Bay Lightning in an NHL career that saw him play 1,224 regular-season games.
"These young players and their families will learn what is required of them to get to the next level in their careers," Roberts said on NHLPA.com. "Through personal experience, I look forward to sharing my story, emphasizing the impact that off-ice skills like fitness and nutrition had on my career. Last year's camp had an everlasting impact on the 42 players we worked with and I look forward to continuing the tradition."
