Prince George, B.C. – They say you only get one chance to make a good first impression, and that’s what Prince George Cougars defenceman Tate Olson accomplished this weekend at CN Centre.

The 7th-round (210th overall, 2015 NHL Draft) pick experienced his first ever professional camp with Vancouver and he, along with the Canucks, felt he held his own.

Prince George Cougars defenceman Tate Olson – photo courtesy PG Cougars

“I think I was alright out there. The teammates made it pretty easy on myself to make me look good,” said Olson, acknowledging going to rookie camp in Penticton this month may have been a good stepping stone for him.

“It was a little bit faster but we got familiar with eachother as the camp went on.”

So what were Canucks GM Jim Benning’s impressions of Olson?

“Tate’s a smart d-man, he reads the game real well,” he said. “But he’s still a young kid, he needs to get physically stronger to compete at the pro level but the things we see from Tate, he can get back, he recognizes his first option and he makes a good first pass so we’re happy with his camp.”

Olson, who will return to the Cougars in time for the team’s home opener versus Everett Friday, said he has the following goals for the coming WHL season.

“I’m just hoping to stay at this speed, just keep going where I am, not lowering myself.”

He’d also like to take on a leadership role with the squad. “Yeah, I’d like to be a leader on this team and I accept that role and hopefully we can have a good run this year.”