Two Cougars and a Prospect Named to Team Pacific

By 250 Sports

Prince George, BC – Two Prince George Cougars 16 year olds Josh Smith and Troy Bourke, along with prospect Devon Fordyce, will represent Team Pacific at the 2011 World Under 17 Challenge in Winnipeg and Portage La Prairie, Manitoba in December and January.

Smith was the Cougars first pick in the 2009 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft, going 19th overall. The Lacombe, Alberta product has played in 15 games this season for the Cougars on defence, compiling 52 penalty minutes.

Bourke, a forward, was chosen in the second round of the 2009 Bantam Draft, going 26th overall. Bourke has scored six goals and added six assists for 12 points in 20 games this season. Bourke, originally from Onoway, Alberta, scored the game winning shoot-out goal in his first shoot-out attempt in Vancouver last Saturday.

Fordyce of Cochrane, Alberta will also head to Winnipeg for the World U-17 Challenge. Fordyce, a goalie the Cougars selected in the sixth round, 114th overall, is playing for the UFA Bisons of the Alberta Major Midget Hockey League. This season, Fordyce has a 4-0-3 record with a 2.65 goals against average and a .925 save percentage.

“This is a proud day for the Prince George Cougars organization to have these three young men participate in the best showcase in the world for players their age,” said Cougars General Manager Dallas Thompson. “We wish Josh, Troy and Devon all the best in Winnipeg later this year and are confident all three will play at a high caliber at the event.”

The 2011 World Under 17 Challenge in Winnipeg and Portage La Prairie begins December 28 and ends on January 4, 2011. This marks the third year in a row the Cougars have had representation at the World Under 17 Challenge. Forward Brett Connolly played for Team Pacific in Port Alberni in 2009 and forward Wilson Dumais and defenceman Jesse Forsberg represented Team West in Timmins, Ontario last year.

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