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VIDEO: Prince George Cougars’ all-time points leader Jansen Harkins scores first NHL goal

Cats alumni goes bar-down in memorable shot against reigning Stanley Cup champions
Kyle Balzer
Kyle Balzer

Three years after leading the Prince George Cougars to their first division title in franchise history, Jansen Harkins has checked another milestone off his hockey resume.

The 22-year-old scored his first career NHL goal last night (Feb. 6), sparking the Winnipeg Jets to a 4-2 victory on the road over the St. Louis Blues.

Harkins potted the opening goal 7:55 into the contest, sending a sharp-angle shot over Jordan Binnington’s right shoulder bar-down and squeaking into the net.

“I played against him quite a bit already this year and a couple times in the past,” he said in a media scrum on Jets TV about nabbing his first professional marker against a Stanley Cup-winning netminder.

“He’s a great goalie; I don’t think he saw it and I didn’t even see it either, so it kind of just worked out for me. I heard it hit the bar and yeah, it was pretty special.”

Harkins is the Cats’ all-time leader in assists (167) and points (242), which he accumulated over four seasons in B.C.’s northern capital. 

The North Vancouver product has played in 15 games since getting called up to the NHL on Dec. 18, 2019.

“It’s obviously a pretty special moment for me and yeah, our line played pretty solid all night, so [we’re] happy to get rewarded, awesome win,” he said, while also adding an assist on Winnipeg’s game-winning goal in the third period Thursday night.

That brings his NHL career total to four points. 

Harkins started his year in the Manitoba Moose with whom he recorded 31 points in 30 games, including 24 assists.

That matches his American Hockey League career-high from 2018-19.