Prince George, B.C.- The Prince George Cougars have acquired 1995-born defenceman Josh Connolly (Prince George B.C.) and a 2015 sixth round pick in the WHL Bantam Draft in exchange for 1995-born defenceman Marc McNulty (Medicine Hat, AB) and a sixth round pick in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft.

Originally selected by the Kamloops Blazers in the third round (61^st overall) in the 2010 WHL Bantam Draft, Connolly (5’11”, 178 pounds) has played in 164 career WHL regular season games (all with the Kamloops Blazers). During that span, he recorded 17 goals, 68 assists and 66 penalty minutes. In 2012-13 he dressed in 14 playoff games for the Blazers and notched one assist.

The former Cariboo Cougar (2010-2012) is currently ranked sixth in WHL scoring for defencemen with 34 points (five goals, 29 assists and 20 penalty minutes) in 39 games played. Last season he led all Kamloops blueliners with 45 points (11 goals, 34 assists). His older brother Brett Connolly is a former Cougars captain, and played 144 career games with the Cougars before joining the Tampa Bay Lighting of the NHL.

“We are very excited to add a defenceman of Josh’s calibre to the Prince George Cougars,” said Prince George Cougars General Manager, Todd Harkins. “He’s an excellent skater with terrific offensive instincts, and he makes our power play instantly better.”

Marc McNulty was originally selected by the Prince George Cougars in the 10^th round of the 2010 WHL Bantam Draft. The 6’6” defenceman dressed in 170 career games with the Cougars and scored 30 goals, 42 assists and added 257 penalty minutes in that span. He was selected by the Detroit Red Wings in the sixth round of the 2013 NHL Draft.

Harkins adds, “We really want to thank Marc McNulty for his time and dedication to the Prince George Cougars. We wish him nothing but the best as he continues his WHL career in Kamloops, and we hope that his success can translate into an NHL contract with the Detroit Red Wings.”

Josh Connolly will join the Prince George Cougars tomorrow and will make his Cougars debut this weekend when the Cougars head to Victoria for back-to-back meetings with the Victoria Royals on Friday (January 9^th) and Saturday (January 10^th).