Three more prospects are in the fold, and two of them are expected to help form the last line of defence.
The Prince George Cougars announced that a trio of youngsters have signed on the dotted line on standard WHL education contracts. Alberta-raised goaltenders Tyler Santos and Devon Fordyce, both 16, and 15-year-old defenceman Joseph Carvalho, who took part in the recent training camp, have confirmed they will go the major junior route.
"As we continue to build for the future, it's great to have these three young men signed," said Wade Klippenstein, the assistant general manager and director of player personnel for the Cougars.
"Tyler, Devon and Joseph are a big part of building a championship in Prince George and we're fortunate they've decided to be a part of the Cougars' future."
Santos, from Sherwood Park, was added in January as part of the trade that saw import centre Marek Viedensky sent to the Saskatoon Blades. The Blades selected Santos with a 10th-round selection in the 2009 bantam draft, and the five-foot-10, 178-pound goalie is expected to make his WHL exhibition debut this weekend when the Edmonton Oil Kings arrive for games Friday and Saturday (7 p.m. starts) at CN Centre.
Santos and Fordyce, who are both on the final list for Team Pacific duty for the World Under-17 Challenge in Winnipeg, will play midget hockey in Alberta this winter. Fordyce was the Cougars' sixth-round choice in the 2009 bantam draft, and is a six-foot-one, 190-pounder from Cochrane.
Carvalho was taken in the fourth round of the 2010 bantam draft after the five-foot-seven, 165-pounder had 14 goals and 57 assists in 66 games for the Burnaby Winter Club. Carvalho will skate with the Vancouver Northwest Giants major midget team this season.
