Showing their prospect depth, the Prince George Cougars announced on Thursday that 10 players in their development system will be on the ice at the Mac's Midget AAA Tournament.
This tournament happens Dec. 26 to Jan. 1 in Calgary. It is considered one of the top annual midget-level tournaments in the world.
Of the 10 on the various teams in Mac's contention this year, seven are from B.C., two are Saskatchewan-born and one is based in Alberta.
Those 10 prospects are:
Niklas Hoem (born 2000 - Goalie - Greater Vancouver Canadians): Listed by the Cougars during the 2015-16 season, Niklas Hoem is 5-7 this season for the Greater Vancouver Canadians in the B.C. Major Midget League.
Liam Ryan (2000 - Forward - Vancouver Northeast Chiefs): Drafted in the seventh round by the Cougars in 2015, Liam Ryan has registered six goals and 13 assists in 20 games so far this season with the BCMML'S Vancouver Northeast Chiefs.
Max Kryski (2000 - Forward - Okanagan Rockets): Kryski was listed by the Cougars earlier this month and has had a phenomenal season with the Okanagan Rockets. He has 16 goals and 21 assists for 37 points in 23 games and is currently tied for third in league scoring.
Zach Wickson (1999 - Goalie - Cariboo Cougars): Listed by the Cougars in the fall of 2016, Wickson is 12-1 this season for the BCMML-leading Cariboo Cougars with a league best 1.18 goals-against-average.
Joel Patsey (1999 - Defense - Cariboo Cougars): Drafted by the Cougars in the eighth round of the 2014 WHL Bantam Draft, the veteran Patsey has recorded seven goals and 14 assists for 21 points in 24 games this season with the Cariboo Cougars. Patsey was a member of the 2015-16 Mac's Tournament championship team.
Jonas Harkins (2000 - Defense - Cariboo Cougars): Drafted by the Cougars in the second round of the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft, Jonas Harkins has a goal and four assists in 18 games this season in his second season with the Cariboo Cougars. Harkins has appeared in one game this season with the Prince George Cougars.
Reid Perepeluk (2000 - Forward - Cariboo Cougars): Drafted by the Cougars in the sixth round of the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft, Perepeluk has put together a strong offensive season netting six goals and adding 15 assists for 21 points in 18 games this season for the Cariboo Cougars.
Taylor Gauthier (2001 - Goalie - Calgary Bisons): Taylor Gauthier was selected ninth overall by the Prince George Cougars in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft. He's the fourth highest goaltender ever selected in a WHL Bantam Draft and so far this season he's registered a 2.10 goals-against-average and a .926 save percentage in 11 games this season.
Cole Beamin (2001 - Defense - Saskatoon Contacts): With their second round pick in 2016, the Cougars drafted defenceman Cole Beamin. In 28 games with the Saskatoon Contacts, Beamin has picked up two goals while adding five assists.
Jack Michell (2001 - Defense - Saskatoon Contacts): Jack Michell was a third round selection of the Prince George Cougars in 2016. He has four goals and 13 assists for 17 points in 28 games for the Saskatoon Contacts this season.
A strong contingent of the 10 Cougars prospects are players for the hometown Cariboo Cougars of the BC Major Midget League. This team has produced elite performances in recent years at the tournament, making the semifinals last year and winning the championship in 2014.
The first game for the Cariboo Cougars is Monday at 2:30 p.m. (Prince George time) at the Max Bell Centre No. 1 rink versus the Calgary Northstars. Game 2 is Tuesday at 1:30 p.m. at Father David Bauer Arena versus the Notre Dame Hounds. On Dec. 29 they go up against the New York Jr. Islanders at 10:45 a.m. back at FDB Arena. They close out the round robin portion of the event on Dec. 30 at 8 a.m. on the same ice sheet against Edmonton's South Side Athletic Club.
There are 25 male teams in contention, travelling from three provinces, four U.S. states and three European countries.
On the female side of the tournament, 10 teams are vying for the championship including the Prince George-based Northern Capitals who enter the Mac's as the defending champions.
The Capitals start the round robin off on Monday (12:15 p.m.) versus the Calgary Fire. Game 2 goes Tuesday at 12:15 p.m. against the Saskatoon Stars. They face the Fraser Valley Rush at 9:30 a.m. on Wednesday. They close out the preliminaries with a game against the San Jose Jr. Sharks on Dec. 30
at 11:15 a.m. All games for the Northern Capitals are scheduled for Max Bell Centre No. 2.
