WHL Prince George Cougars

Cougars Sign Two Prospects to WHL Standard Player Agreements

Published on September 6, 2019 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Prince George Cougars News Release


PRINCE GEORGE, BC- The Prince George Cougars Hockey Club is pleased to announce they have signed 2003-born forward Fischer O'Brien and 2002-born defenceman Ethan McColm to Western Hockey League (WHL) Standard Player Agreements.

O'Brien was originally drafted by the Lethbridge Hurricanes in fifth-round, 98th overall, in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft. The Prince George native was acquired by the Cougars in May in exchange for Tyson Phare.

Fischer, the younger brother of former Cougar Brogan O'Brien, spent last season with the Cariboo Cougars in the BC Major Midget League. In 40 regular season games the Prince George product had seven points (2g, 5a) and six penalty-minutes. In his Bantam draft year, O'Brien was the third-leading scorer on his hometown Bantam Tier 1 Cougars, compiled 23 points (9g, 14a) in 18 games. He helped the Bantam Tier 1 Cougars to a second-place finish at the 2018 provincial championship.

"Fischer was a pleasant surprise for us in Training Camp. He's a smart, all-around player that we think will be a good fit in our organization going forward," noted Cougars' General Manager & Head Coach Mark Lamb.

McColm was drafted by the Regina Pats in the eighth-round, 176th overall, in the 2017 WHL Bantam Draft. The rangy defender was acquired by the Cougars near the 2018 WHL Trade Deadline in a trade that involved Jesse Gabrielle and Jonas Harkins.

The Oakbank, Manitoba product played for the Eastman Selects Midget AAA in the Manitoba AAA Midget Hockey League last season. In 45 games he put up 13 points (1g, 12a) to go along with 32 penalty-minutes. In the 2017-18 season, he played for the Eastman Selects U-17 in the Winnipeg AAA Hockey League, and amassed 29 points (8g, 21a) in 35 games.

"Ethan also had a really good Training Camp and you could see the growth in his game over the last year," stated Cougars' General Manager & Head Coach Mark Lamb. "He has earned his opportunity and we look forward to seeing him in pre-season action."

O'Brien and McColm will make their pre-season debut tonight when the Cougars face the Kamloops Blazers at the Langley Events Centre; the puck drops at 4:00 pm.

Single game tickets are now on-sale! See exciting Western Hockey League action starting at just $13 per game! For more information, visit the TicketsNorth by Treasure Cove box office at the CN Centre, or go online to https://www.ticketsnorth.ca.

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