Prince George,  B.C. – For a second straight season, Cougars forward Jansen Harkins (1997 – North Vancouver, B.C.) will be representing the Western Hockey League in the annual CHL Canada Russia Series which begins on Monday, November 7^th in Prince George. Team WHL will also battle the Russians on Tuesday, November 8^th in Edmonton, AB. Last season Harkinswas the Cougars lone representative for Team WHL in the Canada Russia Series. He had a goal in each game helping Canada to back-to-back victories against the Russians.

Jansen Harkins – photo courtesy PG Cougars

“It’s an incredible honor to once again represent the Western Hockey League and the Prince George Cougars in the Canada Russia Series,” said Jansen Harkins who has a goal and seven assists for eight points in seven games so far this season. “It means a lot to me that I’ll get to represent Canada in front of OUR fans and I’m looking forward to the experience.”

“Jansen Harkins is an elite player in this league and we couldn’t be happier for him,” adds Cougars Head Coach Richard Matvichuk. “The Canada-Russia rivalry is one of the very best in all of sports and to have one of our own players get the chance to represent his country and the Prince George Cougars is a big deal and I know he’ll seize the opportunity and be a big contributor for Team WHL.”

Originally drafted by the Cougars second overall in the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft, Harkins has already set some franchise milestones and has a few more in sight. At age 17, Harkins became the second fastest Prince George Cougar ever to reach 100 career points in the WHL. He finished his sophomore season with 20 goals and 59 assists for (a team high) 79 points in 70 games. His 59 assists was a new single season franchise record for assists. He received the Dan Hamhuis Award which is given annually to the Prince George Cougars Most Valuable Player. In 218 career WHL games, Harkins has notched 55 goals and 123 assists for 178 points. Currently he’s 30 assists shy of setting a new franchise record for assists and 61 points shy of the all-time franchise points lead.

In June 2015, Harkins was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in the second round (47^th overall) of the NHL Draft. Last season he appeared in six games with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose recording a goal and two assists and made his NHL preseason debut on September 28^th, 2016 against the Calgary Flames.

Internationally Harkins suited up for Canada at the 2015 World Under-18 championships in Switzerland and captured a bronze medal. In August 2014, Harkins earned a gold medal with Canada at the Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament in the Czech Republic and Slovakia. Harkins also served as captain for Team Pacific during the 2013-14 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge and helped lead his team to a silver medal. Over the past six seasons only three other Prince George Cougars: Troy Bourke (2013), Brett Connolly (2010) and Charles Inglis (2010) have represented the WHL in this event.

This year, Harkins will be joined on Team WHL’s bench by two familiar faces, as both Equipment Manager Chico Dhanjal and Athletic Therapist Craig Hyslop will be representing Team WHL in Prince George.

Tickets for the Canada-Russia game in Prince George are available HERE: http://bit.ly/2etLnkj