The Prince George Cougars selected forward Justin Almeida of the North Shore Winter Club with their first round pick, 5th overall, in the 2014 WHL Bantam Draft. Almeida is from Kitimat and was the third player drafted this year from the North Shore team that won the Provincial Bantam Championship in Prince George. In 70 games with North Shore, the 5’7, 130 pound Almeida tallied 80 goals and 67 assists for 147 points and 190 penalty minutes. He also added five goals and seven points during the Western Canadian Bantam Championships.
Western Elite Hockey Prospects had the following report on Almeida, who plans to play the upcoming season with the Cariboo Cougars.
“Has elite hockey sense. Very quick and shifty skater. Has great vision and makes plays at tempo and when under pressure. Has decent speed, but mostly relies on his quickness and agility. Has extremely smooth hand and great puck control. Not overly physical, but is always in the play competing and supporting the puck.”
–With their second round pick (27th overall) the PG Cougars selected 5’11, 176 pound defenceman Max Martin from Winnipeg. In 32 games with the Winnipeg Monarchs, Martin scored 18 goals, and added 41 assists for 59 points. He also had 30 penalty minutes. In addition, Martin notched two goals and 15 points in eight playoff games for the Monarchs.
–The PG Cougars traded 1995-born forward Alex Forsberg to the Saskatoon Blades for 1997-born prospect forward Haydn Hopkins and a third round bantam pick which turned out to be forward Ethan O’Rourke. The 6’3, 175 pound O’Rouke is a right-handed winger/center who scored 17 goals 33 points and 24 penalty minutes with Okanagan during the 2013-2014 season.
–With their fifth round selection (93rd overall) the Cougars selected defenceman Peter Kope of Edmonton. Kope
6’0”, 175 pounds) is a right-handed shooting defenceman who scored 10 goals, 10 assists AND 67 penalty minutes in 33 games last season with The Canadian Athletic Club Bantams of the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League.
–With their sixth round selection (115th overall) of the Bantam Draft, the Cougars selected forward Liam Lytton of Vancouver. Lytton (5’11”, 160 pounds) is a right-handed shooting right winger who scored nine goals, and 19 assists in 46 games last season with Pursuit of Excellence Hockey Academy.
–With their seventh round selection (137th overall), the Cougars selected defenceman Ryan Schoettler of Lloydminster, Alberta. Schoettler (5’7”, 145 pounds) is a left-handed shooting defenceman who scored four goals, and three assists in 33 games last season with the Lloydminster Heat of the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League.
–With two picks early in the eighth round of the Bantam Draft, the Cougars selected forward Logan Mazerolle (155th Overall) and defenceman Joel Patsey (159th Overall). Mazzerole (5’11”, 163 pounds) is a center from Grand Prairie who scored 19 goals and 40 points with the Grand Prairie Storm. Patsey (6’1”, 175 pounds) is a defenceman from Hazelton.
–With their ninth round pick (181st Overall) in the
Bantam Draft, the Cougars selected forward Marco Pasemko
of Edmonton. Pasemko (5’8”, 140 pounds) tallied 24 goals and 49 points in 33 games with the Canadian Athletic Club Bantams of the Alberta Major Bantam Hockey League.
–With their 10th and final; round pick (203rd Overall) in the Bantam Draft, the Cougars selected American-born forward Adam Kadlec from Edina, Minnesota. Kadlec checks in a 5’10”, 151 pounds and spent last season playing with the Revolution Tier 1 AAA Hockey Club.
–Kadlec is the sixth forward and only American selected by the Cougars in the 2014 draft.
——-The 1st player from Prince George selected in the WHL Bantam Draft was right winger Myles Mattila, who went in round 9 (183rd) to Vancouver Giants.