Liam Blackburn has earned a shot at a Western Hockey League career.
Blackburn, a 16-year-old centreman for the Cariboo Cougars, was added to the protected list of the Victoria Royals on Wednesday. In the B.C. Hockey Major Midget League this season, he's the third-leading point-producer, with 14 goals and 30 points in 18 games. In the goal-scoring race, meanwhile, Blackburn is tied for third with Josh Blanchard of the Okanagan Rockets. They trail only Branden Wagner of the Rockets (16), Colton Kehler of the Vancouver Northeast Chiefs (15) and Jakob Stukel of the Valley West Hawks (15).
"Any Western Hockey League team that's got room on their list and they're looking for a guy that can put the puck in the net, obviously Blackburn fits into that," said Cougars head coach Trevor Sprague.
Blackburn is also a master in the faceoff circle. This season, he has won 85 per cent of his draws.
When the midget Cats were in Victoria last weekend for games against the South Island Royals, scouts from the city's WHL club took in some of the action, as did general manager Cameron Hope. The Cougars skated to a pair of 7-0 wins and Blackburn piled up six points (two goals, four assists).
Brad Crossan, an assistant coach with the Cougars, is on the Victoria scouting staff and had alerted the Royals organization to Blackburn's potential earlier in the year. When Hope saw the talented youngster in person, he made the decision to bring him into the fold.
"He's a kid that has really worked hard and come a long ways," Crossan said of the five-foot-11, 155-pound Blackburn. "You've got to have a real high intelligence for the game and he thinks the game really well. We're looking for gifted, smart kids and he's got a real good skill set to go along with it.
"Getting listed is one thing and making the step is another," Crossan added. "It comes down to hard work and progressing as a player."
Blackburn, a Prince George resident, joins Cariboo teammate Michael Bell as a Royals prospect. This MML season, the six-foot, 215-pound Bell has four goals and 10 points in 15 games.
Cariboo graduates Tim Traber and Ryan Gagnon are already on the Victoria roster.
