Thursday, May 17, 2012

Two Cougars Staff Members Named to Team Pacific at 2013 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.


The Prince George Cougars are pleased to announce that Assistant Coach Jason Becker and Assistant General Manager, and Director of Player Personnel Wade Klippenstein will both have prominent roles with Team Pacific at the 2013 U-17 World Hockey Challenge in Quebec. Becker has been named Head Coach for Team Pacific, while Klippenstein has been named Head Scout. 

"I am honored to be named the head coach of Team Pacific. It is a great opportunity to coach elite athletes at an elite event,” said Jason Becker. “The U-17 is a huge international tournament and I am very excited to be a part of it in this way." 

“I’m excited to be a part of a very special program and a very elite event,” said Wade Klippenstein. “I’m looking forward to working alongside Hockey B.C. and Hockey Alberta in the selection process, and coming up with the best team possible to represent the Pacific region” 

“We are very proud of Jason and Wade for receiving these honors,” said Prince George Cougars General Manager Dallas Thompson. “We’ve sent quite a few players to this tournament in recent years, and now to send two of our staff members speaks volumes about the positive direction of our organization.” 

Becker joined the Prince George Cougars coaching staff in December, 2009 and will be looking to lead Team Pacific back to the podium in 2013. Last year Team Pacific finished fifth, but won a bronze medal in 2011. 

Klippenstein was named Director of Player Personnel for the Prince George Cougars in 2009 to go along with his Assistant General Manager title. Klippenstein has overseen the past three Bantam Drafts for the Prince George Cougars and he and his scouting staff were responsible for drafting four players who represented the Cougars at the U-17 tournament last season. Chase Witala suited up for Team Pacific while Alex Forsberg, Jarrett Fontaine and Jordan Tkatch played for Team West. 

The World Under-17 Hockey Challenge kicks off in late December (2012), and wraps up in early January. The tournament will be taking place in both Victoriaville and Drummondville, Quebec.

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