The Prince George Cougars have signed a second player in as many days to a standard WHL agreement, officially inking six of their first seven bantam draft picks from 2016.
16-year-old Zach Bolton was originally selected by the Cougars in the seventh round (145th overall) of the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft and has accumulated 14 points (five goals, nine assists) in 22 games with the Vancouver Northwest Giants this season.
BREAKING: The Prince George Cougars have signed forward Zach Bolton to a Standard @TheWHL Player Agreement!!!
MORE: https://t.co/6b5dG66jAW pic.twitter.com/FOYq3Ep2DD
— PG Cougars (@PGCougars) January 25, 2017
Cougars General Manager Todd Harkins says he’s familiar with the North Vancouver native’s character on and off the ice.
“I’ve known Zach and his family since he was four-years-old and I have watched him develop into both a great hockey player and a great person who’s worked very hard to get to this point of his hockey career.”
Harkins adds the 6’2” forward will bring certain smarts to the Cougars line-up in the future.
“He plays a strong 200-foot game, and he thinks the game at a very high level. He’s going to be an excellent compliment to our young and up-and-coming core of players in the seasons to come.”
Bolton joins forwards Edge Lambert and Keegan Craik, defencemen Cole Beamin and Jack Michell, and goaltender Taylor Gauthier; the other five players signed by Prince George since being drafted last year.
The B.C. Division leading Cougars return to action on Friday, January 27th in Red Deer against the Rebels, marking the third game of their current five game road trip.