New PG Cougars roster boasts young talent with experienced group

The Prince George Cougars are bringing 26 players with them to Kamloops for the start of the altered and shortened 2020-21 B.C. Division season.

Its roster appears to have a little bit of everything in terms of returning players with a healthy mix of rookies.

Among the list includes 16 returning players, a good sign for the Cougars in their development over the years along with 10 rookies, most of whom will likely get their first taste of major junior hockey action when the puck drops on March 27.

“I’m very excited about the makeup of our roster,” said Prince George General Manager and Head Coach Mark Lamb in a statement today (March 10).

“We have a good number of returning players that know what to expect, but also a nice mix of young talent that will benefit from the experience of this compact season.”

The roster even includes Riley Heidt, whom Prince George selected second overall in the 2020 WHL Draft last summer and believes he can play a bigger role than expected

“Anywhere from leadership to being on the ice, I really think I can step forward with that and I know we’ve got a couple of good guys coming in here and they’re a great team,” he said when asked by PrinceGeorgeMatters following his pick.

“I think I can bring in a good aspect to the team by doing what I can do best, play my game and be the person that I am.”

All players will be making their own way to Kamloops for March 13 after a week of self-isolation, will undergo a COVID-19 test and endure another week of quarantine before training and practicing for the new season.

Regular daily COVID-19 testing is being done by DynaLIFE Medical Labs, a private company hired by WHL owners.

THE GOAT IS BAAAAACK

Taylor Gauthier is back for a fourth season between the pipes for the Cougars, coming off a stint with Canada at the 2021 World Junior Hockey Championships.

He’s expected to have a fire lit under him over the course of the upcoming 24-game schedule as he did not start in the tournament.

The 20-year-old was also passed over a second time in the NHL Draft, to which he said, ‘Career year coming up.’

Last season, which was shortened and later cancelled by COVID-19, he played the most minutes of any other netminder in the Western Hockey League (WHL) at 2,870 in 50 starts.

"Playing as much as I did in the last two seasons was taxing on my body," he said in an earlier statement while also finishing second in total shots faced (1,677) and total saves (1,537).

"I certainly felt it towards the end of the season. I wanted to get stronger this summer and I really worked at it. I cut down my weight and then added on about 20 pounds of muscle. I don’t know what the schedule is going to look like this year, but I feel great and I’m ready for a whatever they throw at me."

Gauthier tallied a 2.93 goal-against average in his 2019-20 campaign along with a .917 save-percentage.

He's suited up in 137 games for the Prince George Cougars since coming onto the WHL scene in 2017.

OVERAGERS

Ilijah Colina and Jack Sander will serve as the Cougars’ two graduating players in Kamloops and Kelowna.

Colina is set to be an offensive force (along with what may arguably be the best flo on the team).

The North Delta product scored nine goals and 24 points in 2019-20, which was double his career best and is the highest among returning forwards for 2021.

Sander will likely be a top-two defenceman and provide a leadership role after registering 28 points, including 24 assists, and 103 shots on goal, the fifth highest on the Cats last year.

Cole Moberg would have been the third overager on the starting list.

He’s currently playing with the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League (AHL) after inking a professional try-out contract with the Chicago Blackhawks affiliate on Jan. 31.

Moberg was taken by Chicago in the 2019 NHL Draft.

IMPORTS STAYING HOME

One key takeaway from the Cougars’ 2020-21 roster is that their two imports will not be making their way to B.C.’s Okanagan.

Filip Koffer is set to stay in the Czech Republic, where he signed a multi-year contract with HC Dynamo Pardubice following his breakout performance at the World Juniors.

Meanwhile, Prince George’s pick in the 2020 CHL Import Draft Jonni Kärkkäinen remains in Finland with HIFK’s Under-20 program.