Jansen Harkins has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Winnipeg Jets and will spend the rest of the season with the Jets' American Hockey League team, the Manitoba Moose.
Harkins, a four-year member of the Prince George Cougars, was chosen by the Jets in the second round (47th overall) of the 2015 National Hockey League draft.
"We couldn't be happier for Jansen," said Cougars head coach Richard Matvichuk in a team release. "He's worked extremely hard to earn this well-deserved opportunity to play at the next level. He played a big part in our team's success this season, and has certainly made his mark both on the ice and in our community over the past four years. We wish him the very best as he continues his journey towards one day playing in the National Hockey League."
This WHL season, Harkins led the Cougars in scoring with 21 goals and 72 points in 64 games and was named the team's top offensive player.
Harkins was selected by the Cougars second overall in the 2012 bantam draft. In 275 regular-season WHL games, he has 75 goals, 167 assists and 242 points. He became the Cougars' all-time assists leader on Jan. 28 in Edmonton, and the all-time points leader on March 4 at home against the Kamloops Blazers.
In 15 career playoff games, Harkins has notched four goals and 16 points. In the Cougars' opening-round loss to the Portland Winterhawks - a series that ended Monday night in Portland - he scored two goals and added five assists in six games. Five of his points came in Game 3, a 6-1 win in Portland.
Harkins dressed in six games for the Moose last season. In those outings, he had a goal and two assists.
So far this AHL season, the Moose have a 26-36-5-5 record, which has them seventh out of eight teams in the Central Division. Including home games tonight and Sunday against the Tucson Roadrunners, Manitoba has four games left in the regular schedule.
