From the day he got drafted two years ago by the Kelowna Rockets, Brogan O'Brien has always wondered about what it would be like to play in the Western Hockey League.
That focus on a WHL career changed when he started playing junior A hockey for the Prince George Spruce Kings two seasons ago. O'Brien's longterm goals suddenly shifted to trying to lock up an NCAA scholarship to play college hockey in the U.S.
His career possibilities took another turn in January when the Prince George Cougars sent 20-year-old forward Chance Braid to Kelowna to acquire O'Brien's rights from the Rockets. All of a sudden, the thought of playing for his hometown Cougars got O'Brien thinking about the WHL again. After signing a standard WHL contract with the Cats earlier this week, the 17-year-old centre is now intent of finishing his junior career in Cougarville.
"We started talking again after the (Spruce Kings') season ended and I just thought it was a better option and thought it would be good to move on to a higher level," said O'Brien. "Obviously it's exciting to play in front of your friends and family in your hometown. It was always a little bit in the back of my mind, I thought I wanted to go to school for a little bit there, but then this opportunity came up and I just went with it. It's exciting for me. Hopefully, moving on to the WHL will open me up to more scouts and give me some more exposure."
O'Brien, a former Cariboo Cougar midget, has good size at six-foot-two, 195 pounds, he's good on face-offs, makes smart decisions and is an above-average skater. NHL scouts like what he brings to the rink. He's considered a C prospect for the NHL draft in June.
After an 18-point rookie season in 2003-14, O'Brien played 57 regular season games in the B.C. Hockey League for the Spruce Kings this season and collected 12 goals and 17 assists for 29 points. In 10 BCHL playoff games this season he was fourth in Kings' scoring with three goals and two assists.
"It was a great season and a great organization and great people," said O'Brien, the eldest son of Shauna and Eric O'Brien. "I loved my teammates and it was a pretty fun year. It was tough we lost out in the first (playoff) round but it was fun.
"I was given a lot of opportunities throughout the year and played in the top six (group of forwards) for the most part and I was pretty happy with it. I feel like the jump (to the WHL) will be easier for me playing junior A, compared to some kids who come out of midget. "
O'Brien has practiced twice with the team this week and is available to play for the Cougars and if they decide to insert him into the lineup he could get involved in their playoff series against the Victoria Royals, but he's not expecting to play.
Assuming he makes the team next year, it would add more strength to the Cougars' deep supply of 1997-born players. That list of '97s includes forwards Jansen Harkins, Brad Morrison, Jared Bethune, Cal Babych and Aaron Boyd and defencemen Tate Olson and Shane Collins.
O'Brien said there's no doubt the transformation of the Cougars' franchise under new ownership this season and the positive direction the franchise appears to be heading in, with renewed fan interest and a playoff team to support, weighed in his decision to sign with them.
"For sure, the organization has gotten nothing but better with the new ownership and it is a huge factor in deciding to go there," said O'Brien. "When the Cougars traded (Braid) they chose me out of all people and it's cool for them to think of me that way and I was happy to join them.
"There are a lot of young guys on the team so there's nothing but positives going into the future with them."
