Prince George, B.C.- The Prince George Cougars have claimed 20-year-old goaltender Jared Rathjen (Prince George, B.C.) off of waivers from the Medicine Hat Tigers.

The 6’1”, 187 pound Rathjen has played 74 career games in the WHL with the Victoria Royals and Vancouver Giants. His career record is 20-30-7-1 with a 3.81 goals-against-average and a save percentage of .873. Last season with the Giants, Rathjen posted a record of 13-8-4-1 with a 2.98 goals-against-average, an .898 save percentage and one shutout.

Prior to this season, Rathjen (a former Cariboo Cougar and Prince George minor hockey product) was traded by the Vancouver Giants to the Medicine Hat Tigers in exchange for a conditional fifth round selection in the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft. He dressed in two preseason games for the Tigers but has not yet played in the regular season in 2014-15.

Rathjen is en route to Prince George from Medicine Hat and will join the team for this weekend’s home double-header with the Kamloops Blazers.

In order to make room for Rathjen on the Prince George Cougars 25-man roster, the Cougars have placed 20-year-old defenceman Wil Tomchuk (Fort McMurray, AB) on waivers. In the meantime, Tomchuk has been reassigned to the Fort McMurray Oil Barons of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. The Prince George Cougars wish to thank Wil for his dedication and commitment to the Prince George Cougars, and wish him all of the best in his future endeavors both on and off the ice.