WHL Prince George Cougars

Six Cougars Prospects Invited to U-16 Summer Provincial Camps

May 19, 2016 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Prince George Cougars News Release


Prince George, B.C. - Two weeks removed from the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft, six of the Prince George Cougars newest prospects have been invited to attend U-16 Summer Provincial Camps.

Team BC's camp will run July 13th - 17th in Shawnigan Lake, BC and will include forward Keegan Craik (Brentwood Bay, BC) and defenceman Butch La Roue (Surrey, BC). Both Craik and La Roue played for the Delta Hockey Academy's Bantam Prep team in 2015-16. Craik, a fifth round selection had 16 goals and six assists along with 50 penalty minutes while La Roue, a 10th rounder posted a goal, three assists and 12 penalty minutes on the back-end.

Alberta's camp takes place in Camrose, AB from July 5th - 10th and goaltender Taylor Gauthier (Calgary, AB) and defenceman Eric Parker (Calgary, AB) both secured an invite. Gauthier, an Alberta Cup champion, was selected by the Cougars in the first round (ninth overall) and was the first goaltender ever selected by the Cougars in the first round of the WHL Bantam Draft. He's the two time reigning Goaltender of the Year in the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League with the Calgary Bisons. Parker, a teammate of Gauthier's with the Bisons was selected in the eighth round and registered a goal, 19 assists and 20 penalty minutes in 35 regular season games.

The Cougars will also be represented in Saskatchewan when defenceman Cole Beamin (Saskatoon, SK) heads to Wilcox, SK from August 1st - 5th. The 6'3", 190 pound Beamin was picked in the second round and is coming off a season where he scored 10 goals, added 12 assists and accumulated 64 penalty minutes in 30 games with the Saskatoon Outlaws Bantam AA team.

Manitoba got a head start and hosted their provincial camp from May 12th - 15th in Winnipeg. Forward Jesse Mistelbacher (Lorette, MB) was drafted by the Cougars in the sixth round and was one of the 40 participants invited to the Manitoba capital. In 29 games with the Eastman Selects (Bantam AAA) in 2015-16, he scored 16 goals and added 25 assists along with 18 penalty minutes.

"We are very proud of all six of our prospects for receiving invitations to attend their respective provincial camps," said Prince George Cougars General Manager, Todd Harkins. "When we left Calgary two weeks ago we were thrilled with how the draft played out for us. This just reaffirms our confidence and our belief that the future of the Prince George Cougars is in great hands."

From each province listed above, roughly 20 players will be selected to play in the 2016 U-16 Challenge Cup, an annual tournament which begins in late October in Calgary, AB.

Check out the Prince George Cougars Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from May 19, 2016


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