Catching Up With Connolly.

(Photo By: Ralph Posteraro)

Fresh off his first season in the National Hockey League, Prince George Cougars alumni forward Brett Connolly has a lot to feel good about. The soon-to-be 20-year-old from Prince George, B.C. played in 68 games and scored four goals and 15 points with the Tampa Bay Lightning. Connolly also represented Canada for a second time at the World Junior Hockey Championships, and scored five goals in six games, helping Canada to a bronze medal.

Brett Connolly recorded 152 career points in 144 games as a Prince George Cougar. He ranks fifth all-time in goals with 86, and sits 15^th on the all-time franchise scoring leaders list. Heading into the 2011-2012 season, Connolly still had two more years of junior eligibility, but a strong summer in the gym and an even better training camp helped him stay in Tampa Bay permanently.

“My goal going into this season was to make the team out of training camp, and it was nice to play a full year,” said Brett Connolly who is back in Prince George for a few days visiting his family and friends. “I learned a lot. There were a lot of things that I took from a lot of different people. It was a very exciting season for me.”

As Connolly reflects on his first professional season, he acknowledges that it was a season full of learning both on and off the ice. “I was fortunate to have a very good group of leaders around. They made it a lot easier for me,” said Connolly. “It’s nice being around guys who have won Stanley Cups before. They taught me how to be professional, and I want to take that into next year for sure.”

Connolly has always prided himself on being an offensive player, and he doesn’t have to look far inside his own locker room to find offensive motivation. He had the luxury of watching and learning from the NHL’s top goal scorer Steven Stamkos. “You see a guy like Stamkos, who scored 60 goals, and is in the gym every day,” said Connolly. “It rubs off on you and it’s nice to be around that type of attitude.”

Connolly’s stay in Prince George won’t last long. He’ll be heading home to Toronto shortly, and will begin training for his sophomore season in the NHL.

Though he now lives in Toronto, Brett Connolly will forever hold the city of Prince George, and the Prince George Cougars organization in the highest regard. “The Prince George Cougars believed in me from at a very young age,” recalls Connolly. “I always enjoyed the management,  all of the teammates I’ve had over the years, and the city of Prince George as a whole. I owe a lot to the organization.”

Troy Bourke Reflects on U-18's.

(Photo By: Ralph Posteraro)

Prince George Cougars forward Troy Bourke returned to Canada on Monday night after helping Canada secure a bronze medal at the World Under-18 Championships in the Czech Republic. The draft-eligible forward from Onoway, Alberta reflected on his experiences with the voice of the Cougars, Dan O’Connor.

 DO: Talk first about the overall experience of the Under-18’s and what the experience meant to you?

 Troy Bourke: It was amazing. Obviously we would have liked to have come back with a gold medal. But the teams there were all very good, and to bring a bronze medal home was a big accomplishment for me and the boys. It was awesome. Europe is a whole different experience, and a whole different lifestyle and I just tried to take everything in, live day-by-day. It was pretty cool.

 DO: Not a bad tournament for you by any means. You play seven games, and end the tournament with seven points (all assists). Happy with the role you had with the team and your offensive output?

 Troy Bourke: Yeah for sure. Obviously it would have been nice to get a few goals in there, but I think my role was mainly a setup man. I think I did a pretty good job playing with guys like Kerby Rychel (Windsor, OHL) and Hunter Shinkaruk (Medicine Hat, WHL), they can put the puck in the net. They were both 40 goal scorers in their own leagues, and my role in this tournament was to set those guys up for big goals, and I think I did a pretty good job.

 DO: What were some of the specific things that allowed you three to find the chemistry that you did?  

Troy Bourke: I think it was mainly our speed and our quickness in the corners. Those guys both scored over 40 goals, they know how to put the puck in the net, they know where to go on the ice to get the puck. My role was to try and be an offensive guy, and with those kinds of players it’s easy to find them on the ice and for them to score.

 DO: Tell me about the leadership of (captain) Matt Dumba (Red Deer, WHL), and what the presence of a guy like that had in that locker room with that club?  

Troy Bourke: He’s pretty remarkable. He’s one of my good friends off the ice and obviously on the ice he leads by example, and he leads vocally. He led the tournament in points (12), which is remarkable for a defenceman to bring that offensive spark. He brings all of the elements to a good d-man’s game, and as far as leadership goes, he’s one of the best leaders I’ve ever played with.

DO: What does this tournament do for your confidence moving forward, knowing that the NHL draft is looming in June?  

Troy Bourke: It was huge for my confidence. I didn’t have the best year that I would have liked in Prince George offensively, but I finished the season strong. I think I brought that kind of offensive style into this tournament and it gave me a lot of confidence to play that style. I know that I can play with the best players in the world and it gives me a lot of confidence heading into the draft. I’m trying not to really worry about that because I know that anything’s possible. I might go, I might not go. But I’m not too worried about it. I just want to have fun with the experience and I’m looking forward to what’s next.

DO: Knowing that you’ve just had the chance to represent your country internationally as an 18-year-old. What does that mean to you at this stage of your life?

 Troy Bourke: It was one of the most special things that I’ve ever experienced in my life. It gives me tingles to think about representing our country, and doing well bring home a bronze. Putting on the Maple Leaf is something that I’ll never forget no matter what level I get to, it’s something I will always look back on.

Troy Bourke Impressing at U-18's,

With the 2012 NHL Entry Draft looming in June, Prince George Cougars forward Troy Bourke (Onoway, AB) is making a strong case for himself at the 2012 World Under-18 Championships taking place in the Czech Republic. The Prince George Cougars leading scorer was one of the first confirmed names for Team Canada, and so far he has not disappointed. Through six games, Troy Bourke has recorded six assists and head coach Jesse Wallin has not been shy to use Bourke in all situations. Bourke has spent most of the tournament playing alongside two 2013 draft eligible players in Hunter Shinkaruk (Medicine Hat, WHL) and Kerby Rychel (Windsor, OHL). Currently, Troy Bourke is ranked 123rd in the Central Scouting Bureau’s Spring rankings for North American skaters, but his strong showing at the World Under-18 championship is bound to help his cause come draft day. Bourke and his teammates will square off with Finland on Sunday with the hopes of returning to Canada with a bronze medal. The game will shown live on TSN at 3:00 AM local time.

Troy Bourke to Represent Canada at U-18 World Championship.

The Prince George Cougars are pleased to announce that 94-born forward Troy Bourke (Onoway, AB) will represent Canada at the upcoming IIHF Ice Hockey U-18 World Championship which takes place April 12 – 22nd in the Czech Republic.

“I give the Prince George Cougars a lot of credit for where I am now. They are a big part of getting me to the U-18’s,” said Troy Bourke. “It’s an exciting time for me. I’m just going to embrace it and have fun.”

Bourke set a new career high for points during the 2011-2012 season. He scored 18 goals, and finished with a team high in points with 56. Bourke also led the team in power play points (21) and multi-point games (14). Bourke has 101 points in 144 career games with the Prince George Cougars.

“We are very happy that Troy gets to represent Canada and the Prince George Cougars at the U-18 World Championship,” said Prince George Cougars General Manager Dallas Thompson. “He deserves this opportunity and we know he’ll be a huge asset to Team Canada.”

“Troy Bourke had an outstanding season for us, leading our team offensively,” said Prince George Cougars Head Coach Dean Clark. “We wish him all of the best, and we hope that he comes back to Canada with a gold medal.”

This marks the second time that Bourke will dawn the maple leaf. Bourke played for Team Pacific at the 2011 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge that took place in Winnipeg and Portage La Prairie, Manitoba. Bourke had eight points in six games during that tournament and helped lead Team Pacific to a bronze medal.

Bourke will be eligible for the 2012 NHL Entry Draft and was ranked as the 107th North American skater during the Central Scouting Bureau’s mid-term (winter) rankings.

Three Cougars Sign Pro Contracts.

The Prince George Cougars are pleased to announce that 20-year-old forward Spencer Asuchak, 20-year-old defenceman Cody Carlson, and 19-year-old forward Campbell Elynuik have signed professional contracts. Asuchak is California bound, and will be joining the Ontario Reign of the East Coast Hockey League. Carlson is heading to Texas to play for the Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees in the Central Hockey League. Elynuik has signed an amateur tryout contract with the Adirondack Phantoms of the American Hockey League.



Asuchak (Kamloops, B.C.) finished the 2011-2012 season tied for the team lead in goals with 18, and he finished with a new season-high in points with 36. Asuchak played a total of 224 games in the Western Hockey League and recorded 49 goals and 95 career points along with 208 penalty minutes. Asuchak joins an Ontario squad that is currently ranked first in the ECHL’s Pacific Division. Through 65 games, the Reign are 39-18-5-3.



Cody Carlson (Victoria, B.C.) was the only Cougars player to suit up for all 72 games this season. He finished with nine goals and 39 points which led all Cougars defencemen. Carlson played over 300 games in the Western Hockey League and scored 25 career goals and 135 career points. The Rio Grande Valley Killer Bees are currently ranked fourth in the CHL’s Berry Conference with a record of 30-27-7.



Elynuik (Calgary, AB) led the Prince George Cougars in penalty-minutes this season with 156. The 6’4, 190 pound winger was acquired by the Prince George Cougars in an October trade with the Regina Pats. Elynuik scored four goals, 11 points and tallied 132 penalty-minutes in 52 games with Prince George during the 2011-2012 season. Elynuik had previously spent parts of three seasons with the Everett Silvertips before being traded to Regina prior to the 2011-2012 season.

The Prince George Cougars wish to congratulate all three, and wish them all of the best in their professional hockey paths.

Season One Reflections.

To all readers,

First and foremost I want to extend a heartfelt 'thank you' to all of you who regularly visited my blog during the 2011-2012 Prince George Cougars season. Admittedly I was not as active on the blog as I would have liked to have been, but I am proud that this blog has been active for four full hockey seasons now. I can honestly say that I didn't have those kind of expectations when I started it, and it's neat to double-back and read some old entries as well as some recent ones. But enough about the blog.


I've been using the past 10 days or so to reflect on the season that was, and also the future that will be for the Prince George Cougars. I admit that it's a tough feeling watching WHL playoff highlights, and reading WHL previews knowing full well that the Cougars aren't a part of the discussion. The rink feels a lot different without the youthful energy of the Prince George Cougars players, and I definitely miss making the walk downstairs for my interviews and my interactions with the guys.

Admittedly this whole season was a bit of a whirlwind for me. I started with the Cougars on August 22nd, and training camp started the very next weekend. There were several bumps along the road, but by the time September 24th rolled around I felt familiar and confident enough with my knowledge of the Prince George Cougars to put a compelling broadcast on the air.

September 24th, 2011 in Kamloops marked my first of what would be 71 broadcasts in 2011-2012. The Prince George Cougars blanked the Blazers 1-0 thanks to a 32 save shutout from newly acquired goaltender Drew Owsley. It was the first time in six years of hockey broadcasting that I had ever called an opening night victory, and to do so on this stage, in that rink was a very special feeling.

Some broadcasting highlights of the season for me included:

- Calling games in Prince Albert and Saskatoon alongside my good friends and colleagues, Cody Nickolet and Matt Ryan. It was great being back in Saskatchewan so quickly after leaving in August. It was awesome getting a chance to visit with some friends, and experience the WHL with them close by.

- My first broadcast at the historic Rink on Renfrew in Vancouver. I vividly remember watching my first ever NHL game at the Pacific Coliseum, and growing up nearby, I watched a ton of games from that building. It was an honor to call a game from the same booth as the likes of Jim Robson, Jim Hugheson, and Bob Cole. Similar to Saskatchewan, I had a lot of close friends and family attend the games in Vancouver, and I am so grateful for their moral support and friendship. Next year I can't wait to call my first victory in that building!

- Perhaps one of the most fun stretches occured in early December, when the Cougars defeated Portland at home in overtime on December 7th and then went to Seattle and Spokane and won both of their games on the road that weekend. The Spokane game on December 10th sticks out for obvious reasons. The Cougars went into the third period down 3-0 to a Spokane team that appeared to be firing on all cylinders. But the Cougars had other ideas. Alex Forsberg, Jordan Tkatch, and Spencer Asuchak scored third period goals to tie it, and then Cody Carlson scored the shootout winner to lead the Cougars to a 4-3 victory in front of a sold-out crowd in Spokane. That game was easily the first-half highlight for yours truly, and I'm sure for many others as well.

- Trips to Victoria and Portland were also very memorable. I greatly enjoyed the trip to Victoria because of the beautiful scenery and vibrancy of the city, while Portland was great because of my overall love for the state of Oregon. For those that don't know, I'm a pretty big Oregon Ducks fan, and getting a chance to visit their team store alone was a really cool experience. Of course I'll also remember the trip to Portland because of the 'cell phone broadcast.' At the time, it was a living hell, but looking back I'm pleased to say that we got every second of the game on the air, and I never received any hate mail!

- The second-half highlight took place in Kennwick, Washington on Tuesday, March 13th. The Prince George Cougars erased a 3-1 defecit to the top team in the Western Conference, and then skated to a 5-4 overtime victory thanks to some overtime heroics from captain Jesse Forsberg. That victory kept the Cougars playoff hopes alive, and gave them hope heading into the final weekend of the season. It was so nice to see Drew Owsley earn a victory against his former team.

There are so many people who I'd like to thank for the role that they played in my first of what will hopefully be many seasons behind the mic for the Prince George Cougars.

First off I want to thank my family. I owe an equal amount of thanks to my wife-to-be Julie and also to my Dad.

Julie boldly left a comfortable life in Saskatchewan to accompany me to Northern B.C. She had no job prospects, and no real knowledge of Prince George, other than the fact that it meant a dream opportunity for me. She is now working full-time in Prince George in her profession of choice, and is doing some great things. I am so proud of her, and I am so glad she was rewarded to her efforts and her patience.

To My Dad who proudly calls himself the 'travelling Cougars fan.' One of the major perks of moving back to B.C. was the fact that I was now a whole lot closer to my Dad. Having recently lost my Mom to cancer in 2010, it meant a lot to me to be closer to him. We got to spend some true quality time together over the course of my WHL travels this year, and I'm very happy that we got to spend his birthday together in Kamloops. His support of the Cougars means an awful lot to me, and I'm so thankful for the many parents who helped make him feel welcome at the games.

The Prince George Cougars Hockey Operations staff has been amazing. I'm forever indepted to the Brodsky family, Dallas Thompson, Wade Klippenstein, Dean Clark, Jason Becker, Brent Arsenault, Phil Guenter, Chico Dhanjal and the entire group of Prince George Cougars scouts for making me feel welcome from the very beginning. It is an honor to represent the Cougars organization alongside all of you, and I look forward to many future successes together.

To the office staff who I spent a majority of my non-hockey time with. Amy, Shannon, Bev, Kathy and Judy were all so wonderful to work with, and I'm happy that I was able to fit in with them so smoothly. I want to wish both Judy and Shannon all of the best on their future endeavors. You both deserve all of the happiness and success that is bound to come your way.

I owe a huge amount of thanks to my fellow broadcasters and Media Relations coordinators in the Western Hockey League. So many of you went the extra-mile to make me feel welcomed in your city. It was a very gratifying experience getting a chance to meet you all and share some laughs and some stories with you. Thanks for your wisdom, guidance, interview help and most importantly making the new guy feel at home in the WHL.

- To the Cougars bus-driver/photographer Ralph Posteraro. You got us from A to B safely and promptly all season long. Thank you so much for braving the elements, staying awake and ensuring that the Prince George Cougars reached their various destinations. Thanks for being one of the main driving forces behind the Prince George Cougars.

- I want to thank the media for their coverage this season. Thank you for attending our press conferences and games throughout the season. I'm glad I got the chance to get to know you guys.

- To the many corporate sponsors of the Cougars. Your contribution is obvious, yet is oh-so important. Thanks for trusting me/us to promote your businesses. And here's to a successful 2012-2013 season.

- I want to thank the Cougars volunteers, interns and off-ice officials for all of their hard work throughout the season as well. I'm so happy to have gotten a chance to get to know you all throughout the season. You all make coming to the rink a sincere joy, and I hope you all enjoy your summer. See you in the fall!

- To the crew at 99.3 The Drive for helping with the broadcasts this season. Allan Bristowe was awesome to work with, and I'm very proud of the work that we did together on the radio. From the very beginning, Allan has made me feel welcome in Prince George from the start, and I am grateful for all of his help this season. Once more a big thanks to Dave Ross and Patrick Kilcullen for all of their help behind the scenes to make the broadcasts what they were.

I'm almost done.

- I want to thank the many fans, billets, and parents who I got the chance to meet and visit with this season. Your words of encouragement meant an awful lot to a young broadcaster trying to make his mark on a new city with a new team. Thanks for going out of your way to introduce yourself and make me feel welcome.

- Lastly I want to thank the Cougars players. You guys were amazing to deal with. Thanks for helping me with interviews, videos, and player appearances. I've said it many times this season, and I'll say it once more: You guys are great players on the ice, and exceptional men off of it. I have every confidence in your collective ability in the ice, and I look forward to seeing what you guys are capable of in 2012-2013. Have a great summer boys, and keep in touch.

Thank you all for helping make my first season in the WHL an unforgettable experience. Here's to 2012-2013 and the many exciting memories and victories that await us.

- Dan O'Connor (The Voice of the Cougars)

To All Cougars Supporters, Thank You!

With excitement and optimism already brewing for the 2012-2013 season, the Prince George Cougars Hockey Club would like to thank the many individuals and groups who helped shape the 2011-2012 season. Without the assistance of the volunteers, off-ice officials, interns, billets, sponsors, media, season-ticket holders, and the fans, this team would not be able to function.

We are so fortunate to have such hard-working and loyal volunteers. Without your presence at the CN Centre, we would not be able to provide such a safe and enjoyable atmosphere for our fans. Your hard work and dedication did not go unnoticed this season, and we are so thankful for the time you spent volunteering at our games.

The Prince George Cougars are very proud of our off-ice officials who worked tirelessly to help make the games run smoothly. There is no denying your importance to the hockey club, and we thank you for the many hours you all put into the 2011-2012 season.

This season, the Prince George Cougars benefited greatly from all of the hard-work and enthusiasm of our interns. You were a tremendous asset to our game nights. Your assistance during in-game promotions and your creative ideas were a huge help to us, and we thank you for the many hours that you put into making our Hockey Club better.

Without billets, there can be no team. To the billet families that opened their homes and their lives to our players, thank you. Your warmth and hospitality knows no bounds, and we sincerely hope that the relationships formed this season between the players and billets can last a life-time.

We would also like to recognize our loyal corporate sponsors for all of their support this season. It means a lot to us that you are willing to attach your business to ours through sponsorship, and we look forward to pursuing new and innovative sponsorship ideas with you in 2012-2013.

Our local media also needs to be commended and thanked for their coverage and support in 2011-2012. Your presence at our games, press conferences and community functions were extremely appreciated. We are thankful for the fact that you took an interest in our Hockey Club, and we look forward to further growing our relationship with all local media in 2012-2013.

To our loyal and passionate season-ticket holders, thank you. Your continued support means so much to us. We appreciate the fact that you are willing to spend your hard-earned money on our product. Through thick and thin we saw a lot of the same faces attending our games and supporting our players night-after-night. Thank you for being so knowledgeable, and passionate about the Prince George Cougars.

The Prince George Cougars are grateful to each and every fan who attended a Cougars game this season. You proved this season that your knowledge and enthusiasm rivals any other fan-base in the Western Hockey League, and we look forward to seeing you again in 2012-2013.

Rest assured that the Prince George Cougars Hockey Club is hard at work on all levels trying to ensure some more success in 2012-2013. We believe that we have the right leadership, and a talented nucleus of young forward and defence that are destined for great things. One more time we want to thank you for supporting us in 2011-2012, and we look forward a successful 2012-2013.

Sincerely,

The Prince George Cougars.