Jansen Harkins has been selected to play for Team WHL in the Canadian Hockey League's Canada Russia Series. Harkins, an 18-year-old forward for the Prince George Cougars, will suit up for the first two games of the series, Nov. 9 in Kelowna and Nov. 10 in Kamloops.
"Our entire organization is proud of Jansen for all that he's accomplished to this point in his hockey career," said Cougars head coach Mark Holick in a media release. "He's a player that we count on every night to be a difference maker for us, and we know that he'll be a great representative of our organization, our city and our country at this event."
In total, the series will feature six games, with all-star teams from the Ontario Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League taking on the Russians in the other four contests. Those games are scheduled for Nov. 12 in Owen Sound, Ont., Nov. 16 in Windsor, Ont., Nov. 17 in Rouyn-Noranda, Que., and Nov. 19 in Halifax, N.S.
Harkins was not among the 40 players invited to a world junior team camp this summer. A strong showing in the Canada Russia Series would benefit him in his quest to make that club. The 2016 world junior championship will be held Dec. 26 to Jan. 5 in Helsinki, Finland.
Harkins, chosen in the second round (47th overall) by the Winnipeg Jets in the 2015 NHL draft, will become the fourth member of the Cougars organization to represent the WHL against the Russians. The others were Troy Bourke (2013), Brett Connolly (2010) and Charles Inglis (2010).
Harkins has plenty of previous international experience. Last spring in Switzerland, he played for Canada at the world under-18 championship, a tournament in which Canada won the bronze medal. Harkins also helped Canada claim gold at the 2014 Ivan Hlinka Memorial in the Czech Republic and Slovakia.
