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WHL Prince George Cougars

Three Cougars Named to Hockey Canada's National Under 17 Development Camp

June 24, 2020 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Prince George Cougars News Release


PRINCE GEORGE, BC - The Prince George Cougars are pleased to announce signed prospects Keaton Dowhaniuk, Kyren Gronick, and Koehn Ziemmer have been invited to Hockey Canada's virtual National Under-17 Development Camp.

The three prospects are among 113 players invited to the virtual development camp set for July 19-25. Three Canadian teams (Black, Red, White) will compete at the 2020 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

In addition, Cougars' Equipment Manager Ramandeep "Chico" Dhanjal has been named an Equipment Manager for Team Canada Red. This is the second consecutive year Dhanjal will take part in the event. He was a staff member for Team Canada White in 2019.

"The National Under-17 Development Camp is the first stage in introducing these athletes to the Program of Excellence, and it is a great opportunity for them to develop as players and learn what it takes to wear the maple leaf," said Scott Salmond, Senior Vice-President of national teams with Hockey Canada.

Dowhaniuk is one of 37 defencemen to be named to the camp roster. The product of Sherwood Park, AB played last season at OHA Edmonton in the Canadian Sports School Hockey League. At the Midget Prep level, Dowhaniuk compiled 22 points (5g-17a) in 25 games to go along with 62 penalty minutes. Dowhaniuk had one assist in eight games with the Cougars last season, and he made his Western Hockey League (WHL) debut on December 7, 2019 against the Portland Winterhawks. The 6'0", 155-pound defenceman was drafted by the Cougars in the first round, third overall, in the 2019 WHL Bantam Draft.

Gronick is among the 64 forwards taking part in the virtual camp. Last season, the Regina, SK native played for the Regina Pat Canadians in the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League. The 5'11", 175-pound centerman was fourth in team scoring and his team's top rookie scorer after he compiled 35 points (8g-27a) in 25 games. He was second on his team in playoff scoring after he amassed 13 points (5g-8a) in six games. Gronick was drafted by the Cougars in the second round, 26th overall, in 2019 WHL Bantam Draft.

Ziemmer played for the St. Albert Raiders AAA in the Alberta Midget Hockey League last season. The product of Mayerthorpe, AB averaged a point per-game and was fourth in team scoring after he accumulated 26 points (15g-11a) in 26 games. The 6'0", 175-pound winger led his team in playoff scoring with 11 points (5g-6a) in 6 games. Ziemmer played in two games with the Cougars last season and made his WHL debut on December 8, 2019 against the Winterhawks. Ziemmer was drafted by the Cougars in the first round, fourth overall, in 2019 WHL Bantam Draft.

The 2020 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge is set to run Oct 31 - Nov 7 in Charlottetown and Summerside, P.E.I. For more information on Hockey Canada and the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, visit HockeyCanada.ca.

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