After one of the shortest off-seasons in Prince George franchise history, the Cougars are back on the ice this week at CN Centre.
Training camp started today (Wednesday)and while there are no on-ice events junior hockey fans won’t have long to wait.
The players will suit up Thursday for on-ice testing sessions and practices.
Then at 6 p.m. Thursday, the team’s listed prospects and 15-17-year-old free-agents invited to camp will be split into two groups, Team Souray and Team Pogge.
The players will then be grouped into five teams – Team Harkins, Team Byfuglien, Team Chara, Team Mason and Team Connolly – for camp scrimmages that start Friday at 8:30 a.m. They'll follow a schedule that wraps up Sunday afternoon.
Following a round of cuts, the remaining 40 or so players will form the Team Hamhuis and Team Brewer rosters to play in the Rob Charney intrasquad game Sunday at 6 p.m.
All scrimmages and ice sessions are open to the public.
The five scrimmage team rosters are part of the photo gallery above.
The Cougars are coming off one of their most successful Western Hockey League playoff runs in which they advanced to the third-round Western Conference final.
Their season ended May 7 at CN Centre with a 2-1 defeat to the Portland Winterhawks 5:40 into double overtime in Game 6 – the longest playoff game in the Cougars’ 30-year Prince George history.
Wednesday, Aug. 28
- No on-ice events
Thursday, Aug. 29
- On-Ice testing, practices
- 6 p.m. – Prospects Showcase - Team Pogge vs. Team Souray
Friday, Aug. 30
- 8:30 a.m. – Team Harkins vs. Team Byfuglien
- 10:30 a.m. – Team Chara vs. Team Connolly
- 3 p.m. – Team Harkins vs. Team Chara
- 5 p.m. – Team Byfuglien vs. Team Mason
Saturday, Aug. 31
- 8:30 a.m. – Team Harkins vs. Team Mason
- 10:30 a.m. – Team Byfuglien vs. Team Connolly
- 3 p.m. – Team Harkins vs. Team Connolly
- 5 p.m. – Team Chara vs. Team Mason
Sunday, Sept. 1st
- 9 a.m. – Team Connolly vs. Team Mason
- 11 a.m. – Team Byfuglien vs. Team Chara
- 6 p.m. – Rob Charney Cup intrasquad game – Team Brewer vs. Team Hamhuis
