Prince George, BC – Prince George Cougars Assistant General Manager and Director of Player Personnel Wade Klippenstein has  announced the team has signed 15-year old forward John Odgers to a standard Western Hockey League agreement.

Odgers, who turns 16 years old on September 15, is a walk on with the Cougars this season. The 5’11”, 178 pound forward from Spy Hill, Saskatchewan played Midget AA for the Yorkton Terriers of the South Saskatchewan Hockey League, where he collected eight goals and 17 assists for 25 points over 33 games. Odgers also had 33 penalty minutes.

“John plays a style of game that any head coach would appreciate,” says Klippenstein. “He’s a hard working, honest player and we look forward to him playing for the Cougars some day.”

Odgers, who is with the club in Everett, is ecstatic about his signing. “It’s not a real big step from here to the NHL, so it means a lot for me to be on the ice with these guys and wear that WHL sweater in practice,” says Odgers. “I just came to camp hoping to get listed. I was praying to make the intrasquad game, let alone go to Everett, so this is an incredible experience.”

Odgers’ father is Cougars scout and former NHL player Jeff Odgers, who played 831 regular season games with the San Jose Sharks, Boston Bruins, Colorado Avalanche and Atlanta Thrashers between 1991 and 2003, collecting 75 goals and 70 assists for 145 points and posting 2,364 penalty minutes. Jeff also played in the WHL, playing for the Brandon Wheat Kings from 1986 and 1990.