Some players love playing certain teams, especially if there is a connection to the opposition. Ryan Howse and Brandon Manning of the Chilliwack Bruins have never played for the Prince George Cougars, but they grew up in P.G., played their minor hockey in the city, and love playing against their hometown team, especially this season.

 

The 18-year-old Howse, a Calgary Flames 3rd round draft choice, is having a breakthrough season in the WHL and leads the league in goals with 35. He also has 18 assists for 53 points and a plus 16 rating in 50 games.

 

Meanwhile, the 19-year-old Manning is averaging close to a point per game (10 goals, 31 assists and a plus 13 rating in 48 games) which leads all Chilliwack defencemen.

 

Nevertheless, their offensive prowess is more noticeable against Prince George. The following is a summary of compiled statistics, in six games this season against the Cougars:

 

 

 

 

The Bruins have 2 games remaining against the Cougars, March 9 and 10th at CN Centre.

 

Manning is a pleasant surprise. He was given the “C” after Chilliwack dealt ex-captain Mitch McColm to Regina on the January 10th trade deadline. The 6-foot-1, 195-pound former Spruce King, is certainly attracting interest from pro teams, notably the Toronto Maple Leafs. (Okay, this is not the column to debate whether the Leafs are pro or amateur). He attended the Maple Leafs training camp as a free agent in September of 2009. Manning’s undrafted status may work to his advantage. Sometimes having a choice of which NHL organization to play for is better than having that team determined for you, especially if you are not a high round pick. Manning does not mind the physical play either as during the 2008-09 season he set a club record with 140 penalty minutes. He already has 99 penalty minutes this season.

 

Howse, on the other hand, is living up his pre-WHL billing as a first round bantam pick, 3^rd overall. He is the Bruins all time leading goal scorer with 78. Yes, Chilliwack has not been in the WHL that many years, but still this is a notable achievement. He is drawing more media attention and there have been suggestions that he could be a candidate for next season’s Canadian World Junior team. Earlier this month, there was a full-page story and picture devoted to him in the Vancouver Province under the headline “On top of his game Bruins: Ryan Howse is developing into a complete player”. That particular night the 5-foot-8, 185-pound winger, notched a hat trick against the Cougars, the same team he scored his first WHL goal against as an underage 15-year-old.

 

Howse is also excelling in other areas. His two-way play is noticeably better and Bruins coach Marc Habscheid is not afraid to throw him on the penalty kill, even if Chilliwack is down two men on a
5-on-3. Last season Howse was a minus 24 with 44 points (31 goals) in 61 games. He has already surpassed those numbers.

 

Ryan’s improved play has caught the attention of the “big boys”. Calgary Flames director of player personnel Duane Sutter said, “I think that his all-around, two-way game is really showing signs of improvement. I think he’s really working on the smaller details of his game. I think the coaching staff has seen it and they’re rewarding him with penalty-killing time----with playing him in situations he didn’t see time in before.” (Vancouver Province, January 6, 2010)

 

Howse and Manning were teammates with the Cariboo Cougars in the BC Major Midget Hockey league during the 2006-07 season. They both loved playing their minor hockey in Prince George and it is a sure bet they are even enjoying it more having success this season against the Cougars (and other teams) in the WHL.

 

From PG to Chilliwack to the NHL? Do not bet the “Howse “against it. With the progression, grit and determination of these two local products, one, or even both of these players, may one day make it all the way.

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Comedy writer Jim Barach of WCHS-TV in Charleston, W.Va (http://jokesbyjim.blogspot.com/)

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Comedy writer Marc Ragovin of New York 

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