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Prince George Cougars

Cougars Call up a Trio of Prospects

April 13, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Prince George Cougars News Release


PRINCE GEORGE, BC- The Prince George Cougars have called up 2005-born defenceman Ephram McNutt, and 2004-born forward Gavin Schmidt and 2005-born forward Zackary Shantz as affiliate players, the team announced today.

McNutt, 16, was the Cougars' fifth-round pick, 92nd overall, in the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft. The Red Deer, AB product signed a WHL Standard Player Agreement in September. The 6'0," 170-pound right-shot defenceman played this past season with the South Alberta Hockey Academy (SAHA) in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League's (CSSHL) U18 Prep Division. McNutt was the top scoring defenceman on SAHA with 34 points (9G-25A) in 36 games. He was third on his team in assists and served as an Alternate Captain.

Schmidt, who turned 18 in February, was the Cougars' 10th-round selection, 202nd overall, in the 2019 WHL Prospects Draft. Schmidt signed with the Cougars in November and made his WHL debut on November 13th against the Kelowna Rockets. The Calgary, AB product played for the Okotoks Bow Mark Oilers in the Alberta Elite Hockey League's U18 AAA Division during the 2021-22 season. Schmidt, who wore an 'A' for the Oilers, was second in team scoring with 30 points (10G-20A) in 36 games. His 20 assists were second on the Oilers' roster.

Shantz, 16, played for the Northern Alberta Xtreme in the CSSHL U18 Prep Division this season. In 28 games with the Xtreme, Shantz led his team in goals (23), assists (34) and points (57). He had five points (2G-3A) in four games at the U18 Prep Western Championships in Penticton, BC. The Sucker Creek, AB product has already played five games with the Cougars and made his WHL debut on November 27th against the Rockets.

With the additions of McNutt, Schmidt, and Shantz the Cougars' roster sits at 28 players: three goaltenders, 10 defencemen, and 15 forwards.

The Cougars hit the road for their final two Regular Season games this weekend. Prince George faces the Kamloops Blazers on Friday and the Kelowna Rockets Saturday. The Cougars enter the final week of the WHL Regular Season in eighth place in the Western Conference.

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