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Prince George Cougars trade Jackson Leppard to Winnipeg Ice

Longest-tenured player on Cats roster sent east to WHL’s newest franchise
Kyle Balzer
Kyle Balzer

The Prince George Cougars have made a trade today (Oct 19), sending one of their veterans to Manitoba.

Jackson Leppard has been dealt to the Winnipeg Ice, the Western Hockey League’s (WHL) newest franchise after moving from Cranbrook, in exchange for two players, two draft picks and a conditional selection at future WHL Bantam Drafts.

The 20-year-old from North Vancouver was the longest-tenured player on the Cougars roster this season, his fourth in the league, suiting up in 177 regular-season games over three years that included the team’s first-ever B.C. Division title in 2017.

“It’s a good move for our organization right now and moving forward,” said Cougars Head Coach and General Manager Mark Lamb in a team release. “We’re getting two players that will step into our lineup and make an impact. This is a good fit for Jackson too, as he’s going to a great organization and we wish him all the best in his future in Winnipeg.”

He accumulated 70 points during his time in Prince George, 28 goals and 42 assists, along with 300 shots on goal and 219 penalty minutes.

Leppard, the eighth overall draft pick by the Cats in 2015, had one goal in five games thus far, while also suffering a lower-body injury that sidelined him for several nights.

Coming over B.C.’s northern capital are defenceman Marco Creta and forward Holden Kodak.

Creta is 19 years old from Oak Bluff, Man. and currently has two assists in seven games with the Winnipeg Ice this year, adding to his career WHL total of 25 points in 101 regular-season starts.

Kodak returns to his home province in continuing his sophomore season.

The Cloverdale, B.C. player has recorded 10 points in 67 WHL games, including three goals and seven assists, and was also the 2016 MVP of the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL) with the Yale Hockey Academy in Abbotsford.

Both Creta and Holden are expected to debut with the Prince George Cougars on Tuesday night (Oct. 22) at the CN Centre when they host the Swift Current Broncos.

The Cats are also getting two third-round picks from Winnipeg in the 2021 and 2022 WHL Bantam Drafts, along with a conditional fifth-round pick for the 2020 draft next summer.