Photo Courtesy: Prince George Cougars

By Ethan Ready

Top Hog

“Friends for life”: Moberg reflects on time in PG ahead of next chapter in AHL

Feb 4, 2021 | 5:42 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – It’s been a whirlwind the past two weeks for Cole Moberg. Out for a walk with his parents in Vancouver when he received a call from his agent, informing him he had worked out a professional tryout contract offer with the Rockford IceHogs of the American Hockey League (AHL).

“He said he’s been going back and forth with them for a little bit but I didn’t hear anything,” Moberg said with a chuckle, reflecting back on the moment he found out. “One Saturday, I was out for a walk with my family and got a phone call that I have a contract with Rockford.”

Moberg went ahead and signed that contract that very night, which will have all his expenses paid during his time working to prove himself at the AHL ranks.

He’s now awaiting his work visa and getting regular COVID-19 tests in anticipation of getting that first ticket to Rockford as soon as he’s able.

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In the meantime, the 20-year-old admits it’s a sigh of relief knowing his agent has been working to take care of him.

“Thank you to my agent for dealing with everything and not putting it on me. It makes it a lot easier when I get to just find out that I have a contract rather than me having to go back and forth trying to fight for one.”

The terms of Moberg’s contract with the IceHogs are on a try-out basis, ultimately meaning he has a designated amount of games to prove himself worthy of an extended contract.

After going undrafted in the WHL bantam draft, Cole Moberg signed a Standard Player Agreement with the Prince George Cougars in 2016. He’s never shied away from proving himself and overcoming adversity, being picked by the Chicago Blackhawks in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. Now, almost a year removed from finishing second on the Cougars in scoring, he’s looking to prove himself as a pro in the AHL.

While he’s embracing this next chapter, one that few get the privilege of having, he’s also finding it tough to move on from Prince George, a city and team that took him in as a 16-year-old.

“I’ve had mixed emotions the last two weeks about leaving. Obviously, if I knew at the end of last year that I would be leaving then I’d understand it more. You’re so excited to get down there but also just left 25 other guys that you were planning on playing with this year.”

In his last two seasons with the Cougars, Moberg experienced his highest level of productivity, scoring 77 points in 119 games. But the defenceman says he’s eager and ready to prove himself at the next level as a professional hockey player.

“At the end of the day, as a hockey player, your goal is to make it to the next level every year. As soon as I got that opportunity, I couldn’t turn it down at all. Obviously, that’s where I want to be and accept that and understand everyone in Prince George are friends for life. I’ll see them another day but right now for my career I have to go play in the AHL.”