PRINCE GEORGE – The Prince George Cougars announced their leadership team, including making Jack Sander the 26th captain in franchise history.
The team has also announced four Alternate Captains in Connor Bowie, Ethan Browne, Jonny Hooker, and Majid Kaddoura.
“Jack is a great story of perseverance. He went from being a signed prospect to our team captain in four years,” said Cougars’ General Manager & Head Coach Mark Lamb. “He has committed himself to doing everything that is needed to be a good player in our league. He has grown into a natural leader and he is the captain we want to guide our younger players.”
Sander is set to begin his fourth season with the Cougars and is the most experienced defenceman on the team’s roster. The 20-year-old has played in 181 career regular season games and has compiled 38 points (8g, 30a) to go along with 40 penalty minutes. Last season, the Beaumont, AB product set career highs in goals (4), assists (24), and points (28) in 60 regular season games. The 6’1”, 196-pound rear-guard was signed by the Cougars in May 2017.
“Honestly, it’s a huge honour. I’ve played with some great leaders in my time with the Cougars and there’s a great history of Captains within this organization. It’s a feather in cap to be included in that group,” said Jack Sander. “I think we have a lot of good leaders that go beyond the guys that are wearing letters. To be chosen to be a part of this leadership group is humbling.”
Sander succeeds graduated forward Josh Maser – who’s now playing with the AHL’s Iowa Wild – as the team’s Captain and is the first defenceman to wear the ‘C’ since Dennis Cholowski in the 2017-18 season.
Prior to joining the Cougars, Sander won the 2017 Alberta Under-18 Championship with the Leduc Oil Kings and represented the Pacific Region at the 2017 Telus Cup Under-18 National Championship held in Prince George.
The four Alternate Captains in Bowie, Browne, Hooker, and Kaddoura bring a wealth of experience to the team’s leadership group. The four have a combined 527 games played in the Western Hockey League.
With files from Prince George Cougars
