When you are averaging four points per game and leading your Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL) in scoring you will get noticed.
Just ask Miguel Marques of Prince George.
The 15-year-old sniper had his name called by the Lethbridge Hurricanes in the WHL Prospects Draft (formerly called the Bantam Draft) in round one, 10th overall.
It was 14 years ago, that another P.G. product went 10th overall in the WHL Draft when the Prince George Cougars picked Brett Connolly.
The Cougars, who had the 15th pick, had Marques ranked higher than 10th, but would not be more specific.
Marques was selected on Thursday, Dec. 9th and the Hurricanes wasted no time in bringing him to Lethbridge where he played the next day on Friday, Dec 10th against the Red Deer Rebels.
The #WHLCanes have signed their 10th overall pick Miguel Marques to a WHL Standard Player Agreement!
Marques will make his WHL debut tonight against the Red Deer Rebels!
Details ? https://t.co/LMUfJ3CWdm pic.twitter.com/zs1CEPug9v
— Lethbridge Hurricanes (@WHLHurricanes) December 10, 2021
“It was pretty nerve-wracking playing my first WHL game, playing against 20-year-olds as I am five years younger. I got comfortable right away and I am ready to play in that league and go back whenever I can,” said Marques in an interview with Brendan Pawliw of MyPGNow.com.
The interview was conducted on Sunday just prior to the Cariboo Cougars U-17 game against the Okanagan Rockets at Kin 1.
.@miguelmarques88 savours whirlwind weekend with @WHLHurricanes @CSSHL @TheWHL | https://t.co/nViJGeWKzJ #cityofpg #princegeorgebc #northernbc #sports pic.twitter.com/KMW74cUAxd
— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) December 13, 2021
Marques has ties to the Cariboo Cougars, playing for them in the U-15 AAA program during the 2019-20 season where notched 42 points in 26 games.
When the pandemic struck, he went to play for St. George’s Prep School in Vancouver, racking up 15 points in just six games.
This season, he has taken his game to another level, with the Delta Hockey Academy’s U-17 prep team, leading his CSSHL division in scoring with 27 goals, 37 assists for 64 points in a mere 16 games.
He did not look out of place wearing #14 in the Hurricanes line-up and was named the third star with three shots on goal in a 3-2 overtime loss against Red Deer.
Tonight’s @twoguyspizza 3 ⭐s
⭐ @athacker_21
⭐⭐ BRYAN THOMSON
⭐⭐⭐ @miguelmarques88 #WHLCanes #YQL pic.twitter.com/igqP4kOvw7— Lethbridge Hurricanes (@WHLHurricanes) December 11, 2021
“I didn’t really know where I was going to go at all and then Lethbridge called my name so I was super-pumped to go there. Then they called me after the draft saying they wanted to fly me up and I was a bit shocked not knowing I was going to play after the draft. I signed I headed down and all the boys reached out to me so I was getting comfortable right away.”
As long as his prep team is competing in 2021-22, Marques is limited to a maximum of five games this season with the Hurricanes.
Next year though, as a 16-year-old, he will be given every opportunity to make the Lethbridge team as a full-time roster player.
The Hurricanes are at the bottom of the Eastern Conference standings in terms of the number of goals scored.
Filling the net has not yet been a problem for Marques.
If he can maintain being a scorer with Lethbridge, the Hurricanes could be in a prime position to take the wind out of the sails of their opposition.
#
Prince George Cougars VP of Business Any Beesley is this week’s guest on the Cat Scan podcast.
During the episode, he discussed numerous topics including:
- Significance of the Toque/Teddy Bear toss game
- Addition of Christmas Break/New Year’s Eve homes games for the first time in over a decade
- Financial commitment from the ownership group during a difficult time
- No community appearances due to the pandemic
CAT SCAN: @Hartley_Miller catches up with @PGCougars Director of Business Operations @Andy_Beesley in this week’s episode | https://t.co/mzhHylm1Mq #cityofpg #PrinceGeorge #northernbc #NorthernUprising #sports pic.twitter.com/fIh24RFbMt
— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) December 15, 2021
Taking Note:
Flyers, host Habs play without fans . . . NHLer suggests season be paused . . . B.C. restrictions coming today? https://t.co/qHL9OhYaGC
— Gregg Drinnan (@gdrinnan) December 17, 2021
FROM THE QUOTE RACK
After just 13 games, Urban Meyer was fired as coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. The idea he could transition from college to the NFL turned out to be an Urban myth.
*Comedy writer Alex Kaseberg
After firing Urban Meyer, Jags owner Shad Khan reportedly told insiders that he is looking for someone with more of a hands-off approach.
*Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California
Urban Meyer lasted 13 games as the coach of the Jacksonville Jaguars. Wonder how many Urban Meyer’s student-athletes at The Ohio State University and The University of Florida went to as many as 13 classes?
*Comedy writer Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California www.leftcoastsportsbabe.com
Padres star Fernando Tatis suffered “minor scrapes” when he crashed his motorcycle in his native Dominican Republic. That’s hitting for the cycle the hard way.
Dwight Perry of the Seattle Times http://www.seattletimes.com/author/dwight-perry/
In Case You Missed It:
For Christmas Eve, TSN planned on presenting the top 100 bloopers of 2021. They dropped it to 50 when Rod Black retired.
*Western Canadian comedy writer RJ Currie www.Sportsdeke.com
Hartley Miller is the news and sports director/supervisor plus morning news anchor for 94.3 the GOAT and Country 97fm. He also is the radio color commentator for P.G. Cougars’ home games. Hartley has been on the Prince George airwaves since 1979 and is the author of You Don’t Say (sports quotes)