Josh Maser is making a jump from rural northern B.C. to the big apple next month.
The top goal-scorer for the Prince George Cougars last season is being called by the New York Rangers to play at the prestigious Traverse City Tournament in Traverse City, Michigan, an event that’ll pin eight NHL teams and their top prospects against each other in a friendly pre-season competition.
The 20-year-old will head to the concrete jungle for training on Sept. 5 before the four-day tournament kicks off the next day.
Maser led the Cougars with 30 goals last year with an alternate captain’s ‘A’ sewn on his jersey, five more than team points-leader Vladislav Mikhalchuk (25), who has since left for Russia to play in the KHL.
Entering his third full season in the Western Hockey League (WHL), the Houston, B.C. product has 95 points in 156 games, playing all but one in Prince George.
He was acquired in October 2016 from the Prince Albert Raiders, immediately going to the Cariboo Cougars where he led the team to B.C.’s major midget hockey final with 37 points in 32 regular-season games.
Maser is one of 24 Blueshirts selected for the annual NHL prospects event in ‘The Mitten State’ including Kaapo Kakko, who was picked second overall at the 2019 entry draft by New York.
The Rangers are skating in the Traverse City Tournament for the 13th time in team history.
The event itself is in its 21st season and is hosted by the Detroit Red Wings.
New York will face-off with Columbus (Sept. 6), Dallas (Sept. 7), and Minnesota (Sept. 9) in round-robin play.
Maser could also run into teammate Cole Moberg that time should the Chicago Blackhawks select him to play at the competition.
Before they head off to their respective training camps, they’ll wrap up Cougars’ camp tonight (Aug. 27) with the team’s annual Black vs. White Intrasquad game starting 7 p.m. from the CN Centre.
