Prince George, BC – The Prince George Cougars and Brandon Wheat Kings have finalized a trade that sees the Cougars acquire 18-year old goaltender James Priestner.

Along with Priestner, the Cougars get a conditional fifth round pick in the 2011 WHL Bantam Draft, in exchange for a third round selection in the 2011 draft and 19-year old defenceman Aaron Ness.

Priestner played 29 games for the Wheat Kings during the 2008-09 season, going 17-7-1-1 with a 3.08 goals against average and a save percentage of 88.3%. The 6’0”, 170 pound Edmonton product has 57 regular season and playoff games under his belt in the Western Hockey League with Wheat Kings and Kamloops Blazers.

“We’re very pleased with the acquisition of James,” said Cougars General Manager Dallas Thompson. “We’re now in a spot where we have a guy who we think is a capable starter in the WHL and it also frees up options for us with our 20-year old situation.”

Priestner is well known to Cougars Head Coach Dean Clark, who drafted Priestner in the second round of the 2006 WHL Bantam Draft while with the Blazers. “I think with his age, I think he’s someone that fits in very well with our team right now and knowing that he’ll be with us as the team grows, I’m very excited to have him on board.” Adds Clark.

Aaron Ness was on the Cougars 50-man protected list and played last season with the University of Minnesota Golden Gophers, collecting two goals and 15 assists in 37 games. Ness, from Roseau, Minn., is a 2^nd round pick (40^th overall) of the New York Islanders in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft.