Prince George Cougars forward Jansen Harkins has been named to a Western Hockey League all-star team that will skate against a Russian select club on Nov. 7 in Prince George and Nov. 8 in Edmonton.
The games will be the first two of this year's CHL Canada Russia Series, which will also see the Russians play against all-stars from the Ontario Hockey League and Quebec Major Junior Hockey League.
Harkins, a 19-year-old from North Vancouver, was on Team WHL last season and had a goal in each game against Russia.
"It's an incredible honour to once again represent the Western Hockey League and the Prince George Cougars in the Canada Russia Series," said Harkins, who has one goal and eight points in seven games with the Cats so far this season. "It means a lot to me that I'll get to represent Canada in front of our fans and I'm looking forward to the experience."
Harkins is an NHL draft pick of the Winnipeg Jets. Internationally, he also played for Canada at the 2015 world under-18 championship and the 2014 Ivan Hlinka Memorial. In those events, he helped his teams win bronze and gold medals respectively.
"Jansen Harkins is an elite player in this league and we couldn't be happier for him," said Cougars head coach Richard Matvichuk. "The Canada-Russia rivalry is one of the very best in all of sports and to have one of our own players get the chance to represent his country and the Prince George Cougars is a big deal and I know he'll seize the opportunity and be a big contributor for Team WHL."
Tickets for the Nov. 7 game are available through Ticketmaster.
Canada Russia Series Schedule
Game 1 - Monday November 7 at Prince George
Game 2 - Tuesday November 8 at Edmonton
Game 3 - Thursday November 10 at North Bay
Game 4 - Monday November 14 at Hamilton
Game 5 - Tuesday November 15 at Chicoutimi
Game 6 - Thursday November 17 at Baie-Comeau
