Skip to content
Join our Newsletter
  1. Home
  2. Local News

Prince George Cougars in contention at 2019 Canada Winter Games

Three prospects will showcase the northern uprising in Alberta
Kyle Balzer
Kyle Balzer
Cougars-Prospects-Armstrong-Thornton-Brennan
[From left to right] Prince George Cougar prospects Hudson Thornton, Tyler Brennan, & Craig Armstrong (via Prince George Cougars/James Doyle Photography/Kyle Balzer)

You may have never seen these players get a lot of ice time with the Prince George Cougars just yet, but you likely will in a few years.

Three of the team’s young prospects have been called to play at the 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer, Alberta starting this weekend until March.

Craig Armstrong, Prince George’s top pick in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft, is suiting up for the host province, joining the 18 other league prospects on the roster.

The 15-year-old has played in three games this season for the Cougars; he was brought up from Airdrie, Alberta in place of an injured Ilijah Colina in early January.

The forward has 26 points in 27 games thus far with Edge Prep School, including 12 goals.

Tyler Brennan will be put between the pipes for Team Manitoba at the Games.

The first-round, 21st overall pick from Winnipeg has only seen 10 minutes of ice time with the Prince George Cougars, coming in place of Taylor Gauthier during last Friday’s (Feb. 8) game against Kelowna.

He stopped four of five shots in the third period.

He currently plays for the Rink Hockey Academy, winning 11 of his 19 starts.

Hudson Thornton rounds out the three Cougar prospects at the 2019 Canada Winter Games and will also skate for Manitoba with Brennan.

The 15-year-old also plays with the Rink Hockey Academy, potting 41 points in 29 games for the Nationals, and that includes 16 goals.

He has yet to play a game for Prince George.

Steve O’Rourke will be behind the bench for B.C., serving as the Head Coach of the team, which contains 19 WHL prospects.

He is currently the Associate Coach in Prince George.

Men’s hockey will on display at the Games until Feb. 22, with the gold medal game to be televised nationally.