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WHL Prince George Cougars

Cougars Announce Changes to Scouting Staff

May 30, 2016 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Prince George Cougars News Release


Prince George, B.C. - The Prince George Cougars are pleased to welcome three new scouts to their organization ahead of the 2016-17 season: Don Harkins, Rae Metz and Dylan Franson.

Don Harkins (Cleveland, OH) takes over as the team's Director of US Scouting and brings a wealth of experience with him. Most recently in 2015-16, Harkins served as the Head US Scout for the Flint Firebirds of the Ontario Hockey League, and previously spent six seasons with the Ontario Hockey League's Plymouth Whalers as both a Director of Scouting and a Director of US Scouting. He spent two seasons as the General Manager of the United States Hockey League's Ohio Junior Blue Jackets from 2006-2008 and was the Director of Player Personnel of the North American Hockey League's Cleveland Barons in 2005-06. Harkins also coached the Honeybaked U-16 team which featured three-time Stanley Cup champion Patrick Kane. Some of Harkins' recent CHL recruits that have been drafted to the NHL include: JT Miller (Round 1, New York Rangers in 2011), Ryan Hartman (Round 1, Chicago Blackhawks in 2013), Sonny Milano (Round 1, Columbus Blue Jackets in 2014) and Alex Nedeljkovic (Round 2, Carolina Hurricanes in 2014).

"I know the community of Prince George is really behind the Cougars and that's important," said Don Harkins. "On the ice and off the Ice I know that they're trying to build something special up there, and I thought it would be a good time in my career to have a new challenge and to become a part of it."

Rae Metz (Kent, OH) played four seasons of NCAA Division 1 hockey with Fairfield University in Conneticut and served as the team's captain in 2003-04. In 130 career collegiate games, he recorded 52 goals and 82 assists. Metz then played two professional seasons in the East Coast Hockey League (Greenville Grrrowl, Stockton Thunder and Texas Wildcatters). Metz now lives in Phoenix, AZ and will scout the West and Southwest regions of the United States for the Cougars.

Dylan Franson (Sicamous/Kelowna, BC) is related to NHLer Cody Franson and former WHL forward Cain Franson (both of whom played for the Vancouver Giants). Since 2014, Franson had worked for ISS Hockey (International Scouting Services) and will now be responsible for scouting the B.C. Interior for the Cougars.

"We are thrilled to welcome Don, Rae and Dylan to the Prince George Cougars family," adds Prince George Cougars General Manager, Todd Harkins. "All three have a deeply rooted passion for the game and are all aware of the time and sacrifices required to bring the best talent possible to Northern British Columbia. We're very excited to get all three to Prince George for Training Camp in the fall."

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