The Cariboo Cougars are making yet another push for top spot in the BCMML this season and they are doing it with a much younger lineup than in years past.
After winning the Macs Midget AAA Hockey Tournament in Calgary last season and finishing as the BCMML runner-up to the Vancouver Northeast Chiefs, this year was supposed to be a transition of sorts before hosting the Telus Cup in 2017.
Enter Chris Jandric.
The 17 year old Prince George product was cut by the club last year and played 6 games as an affiliate player before catching on full-time in the fall.
The smooth skating defender has 32 points in 33 games this season including a dominant 4 point performance against the Kootenay Ice on Sunday.
Jandric says everything has come together in perfect harmony.
“Just confidence with the puck and I feel like I am controlling the game better with guys getting open for me.”
Despite being a 17 year old rookie Jandric did not harbour any hard feelings after getting cut by Cariboo a year earlier.
“You just can’t take that to heart, you have to go forward, work out and progress.”
The success has also led him to suit up a couple times this season for the Vernon Vipers of the BCHL with his brother Steve.
Cariboo visits Abbotsford tomorrow and Sunday when they battle the Fraser Valley Thunderbirds.