Cougars Host Hitmen, Chase Witala To Play First WHL Game

By 250 Sports

The Prince George Cougars will have three local products in the line-up to kick off December against the Calgary Hitmen Wednesday night.

The Cougars have called up 15-year old forward Chase Witala for the start of a four game homestand.  Witala, a 5'9", 140 pound product of Prince George, was a fifth round pick of the Cougars in the 2010 WHL Bantam Draft.  This season for the Cariboo Cougars, Witala has produced a point-per-game, with 10 goals and 20 points in 20 games.  Although there are a few butterflies likely rolling in Witala's stomach in preparation for the Cougars game against Calgary, he's looking forward to the opportunity.

"Yah, I'm a little nervous right now, but it should be good and a lot of fun," said Witala, who joins forward Brett Connolly and defenceman Dan Gibb as Prince George players suiting up for the Cougars tonight.  "I feel like I'm playing pretty good this year and hopefully I'm able to do my job tonight against Calgary."

Witala joins a Cougars team that currently sits first in the BC Division thanks to 14 wins and 30 points on the year, one victory more than the Vancouver Giants, who also have 30 points.  The Cougars are on a three game winning streak after wins in Chilliwack and Kamloops and a home ice victory over Regina last week.  The Cougars finished the month of November going 5-4-1-0 and are 5-5-1-0 at home this season. The Cougars are without forwards Brock Hirsche, Taylor Makin and Jaroslav Vlach to injuries.  Hirsche suffered a laceration to his right eye Saturday night in Kamloops from a high stick and is expected to miss a week and Vlach is healing a broken thumb.  Vlach's absence is still one to two weeks.  Same for Makin, however Makin did practice with the team Tuesday as he recovers from a broken collarbone.

The Hitmen, meanwhile, have the fewest points in the WHL, with 6-19-1-0 mark for 13 points.  Calgary is the reigning WHL Champion.

The Cougars will continue the homestand Friday and Saturday against the Seattle Thunderbirds, then host the Saskatoon Blades next Tuesday.  Puck drop for all four games is 7:00pm at CN Centre.  Tickets are available by calling Ticketmaster at 250-564-5585.

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