Liam Blackburn has earned a shot at a Western Hockey League career.
Blackburn, a 16-year-old centreman for the Cariboo Cougars, was added to the protected list of the Victoria Royals on Wednesday. In the B.C. Hockey Major Midget League this season, he's the third-leading point-producer, with 14 goals and 30 points in 18 games. In the goal-scoring race, meanwhile, Blackburn is tied for third with Josh Blanchard of the Okanagan Rockets. They trail only Branden Wagner of the Rockets (16), Colton Kehler of the Vancouver Northeast Chiefs (15) and Jakob Stukel of the Valley West Hawks (15).
"Any Western Hockey League team that's got room on their list and they're looking for a guy that can put the puck in the net, obviously Blackburn fits into that," said Cougars head coach Trevor Sprague.
Blackburn is also a master in the faceoff circle. This season, he has won 85 per cent of his draws.
On Thursday, see The Citizen and pgcitizen.ca for more.
