PRINCE GEORGE — Prince George has tended to find their most recent young talent from the prairies in Saskatchewan.
With the ninth overall selection in the opening round of the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft, the Cougars selected forward Lee Shurgot.
The 15-year-old spent the 2021-22 season with the Saskatoon Generals U15 Double-A team, tallying 100 points (57 goals, 43 assists) in 31 games. He also spent eight games with the Saskatoon Blazers U18 team, tallying four points.
The selection of Shurgot marks the third consecutive draft the Cougars have taken a Saskatchewan product with their first pick. In December, PG selected Saskatoon product, Tyson Buczkowski, with the 15th overall selection in the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft. In the 2020 draft, the Cougars selected Riley Heidt from the Saskatoon Contacts after being widely regarded as one of the top prospects in a draft that saw Connor Bedard taken first overall by the Regina Pats.
In the second round of Thursday’s draft, the Cougars selected Jett Lajoie from the Winnipeg Bruins Brown U15 AAA team with the 28th overall pick. Lajoie led the Bruins in scoring with 45 points (26 goals, 19 assists) in 25 games.
Entering the third round, the Cougars had themselves two picks to make.
With the first, picking 50th overall, Leith Hunter was selected from the Vancouver Northwest Hawks U15 AAA. The blueliner adds some impressive size to the Cats defensive core, bringing with him a six-foot-six and 169-pound frame.
Hunter was an alternate captain for the Hawks and finished the season as their top-scoring defenceman as the team went on to win the BCEHL U15 Championship.
With the 61st overall selection, Prince George selected Aiden Foster from the Lloydminster Bobcats U15 AAA. The centreman led his team in goals with 29 and points with 50. Aiden’s father, Aaron, played for the Cougars from 1999-2003.
Not selecting again until the fifth round, the Cougars took defenceman Max Threinen from the Yorktown Terriers U15 AA with the 94th overall pick. He scored 44 points (21 goals, 23 assists) in 29 games.
In the sixth round, Prince George looked at another addition to the blue paint, drafting goaltender Brady Holtvogt from the Humbolt Broncos U15 AA. In 23 games played last season, he tallied a 12-11 record and a .915 save percentage.
The Cougars selected Kieran Thibault, Mitchell DeCoste, and Rowan McDonald in the seventh round.
In the eighth round, the Cougars made their final pick of the day taking Logan Flint with the 160th overall selection.
PG Products Taken
In back-to-back drafts, products of Prince George had their name called in the opening round of the WHL Draft.
After Miguel Marques was selected 10th overall by the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the 2021 draft in December, Cameron Schmidt had his name called by the Vancouver Giants with the seventh overall selection.
Playing with the Rink H.A. Kelowna U15 Prep program, he scored 41 points in 13 games. He scored 11 points in five playoff games as well. Schmidt joined Rink Hockey after spending the 2019-20 season with the Cariboo Cougars U15 AAA team.
Just one pick later, another Prince George product heard his name called. Chase Harrington was taken eighth overall by the Spokane Chiefs.
The 14-year-old was selected after scoring 50 points in 29 games with the Delta Hockey Academy. He scored 32 goals this past season. Come playoffs, he tallied 14 points through five games.
It took a few rounds before another Prince George product heard their name. But when it happened, Ryder Green was selected 158th overall by the Brandon Wheat Kings.
The ’07 product appeared in 17 games in his rookie campaign with the U15AAA Cariboo Cougars, putting up a 4.18GAA and 4-10-0 record during the regular season, with a 3.34GAA in his two appearances during provincials.
