When I think of one word to describe the Prince George Cougars for the 2023-24 WHL season, experience comes to the forefront.
No longer are the Cougars rebuilding and just trying to make the playoffs.
With the players and coaches on hand, the window to win is now.
Cougars Head Coach and G.M. Mark Lamb must be wearing a big smile after landing a good friend of his, Jim Playfair, to be his new right-hand man.
NEWS! We have named Jim Playfair as our new Associate Coach!
Welcome, Jim!
DETAILS 📝 https://t.co/LcLz7x5232#ForTheNorth • #WHL pic.twitter.com/iHfMbLijwU
— Prince George Cougars (@PGCougars) July 24, 2023
The soon-to-be 59-year-old Lamb (his birthday is on Aug 3rd) has 22 years of coaching experience (WHL, NHL and AHL).
Playfair, who is the same age as Lamb having turned 59 on May 22nd, has even more experience behind the bench, nearly 30 years (ECHL, IHL, AHL, NHL) starting as head coach of the Dayton Bombers of the ECHL in 1993-94. His total includes 15 years of coaching in the NHL as both an Associate Coach and Head Coach.
CAT SCAN: @Hartley_Miller sits down with @PGCougars assistant and long time NHL coach Jim Playfair (part 1) on this week’s episode | https://t.co/Msu8smiRKy #cityofpg #PrinceGeorge #northernbc #sports pic.twitter.com/IRx54yPzMf
— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) March 2, 2023
When Josh Dixon left the Cougars this summer to become the head hockey coach at the University of Guelph, it opened up an associate coach position with Prince George.
Playfair has mostly coached pros and wants to get back to the NHL at some point, but feels comfortable in a new role with the Cougars.
“I think after last year’s experience being around the team, around the ownership and around the excitement of the playoffs, it really energized me about getting back into the game and certainly the opportunity in Prince George makes it more exciting being close to home,” said Playfair.
CAT SCAN: @Hartley_Miller sits down with the @PGCougars assistant coach Jim Playfair for part two in this week’s episode
| https://t.co/0UExMVOE7C #cityofpg #PrinceGeorge #northernbc #sports pic.twitter.com/I040GWz2Bg— My Prince George Now (@mypgnow) March 8, 2023
Last season, as a volunteer, he would often commute from his home in Fort St James to P.G. to help the coaching staff and the players.
After enjoying that experience, he takes a more prominent position with the team and will get paid for his efforts.
He had other opportunities presented to him but was encouraged by the Cougars’ situation of having many returning players and what should be a highly competitive team.
“I talked to NHL teams over the course of the summer, I talked to another WHL team and when I looked at the whole picture I just felt like Prince George is in a window of winning right now and I think they got a window where they see they can add some parts and really make headway in Prince George the next couple of years.”
While P.G. will enjoy veteran leadership behind the bench, the same is also true on the ice as the Cougars can return as many as 15 players including 2nd-round 2024 NHL draft pick Riley Heidt (64th overall to the Minnesota Wild) and 3rd-round NHL pick Koehn Ziemmer (78th overall to the LA Kings) for the 2023-24 season.
I am not counting last year’s Captain Ethan Samson or goalie Tyler Brennan as part of that group although there is a chance one or the other could be back as a 20-year-old.
Arguably Prince George has the most talent in the B.C. Division.
Playfair may be joining the team on a full-time basis at just the right time when expectations are high and the so-called rebuilding process should be complete at least for the short-term.
Between Lamb and Playfair, their hockey knowledge can rival anyone in the WHL.
The key going forward will be to get the Cougars to the next level, like being the top team in the Western Conference, something that has eluded this franchise, which enters year 30 in P.G.
Taking Note:
Backmeyers close to wrapping up best chapter yet . . . BC Hockey keeps door open for BCHL teams . . . Rebels, Silvertips acquire 2003-born skaters https://t.co/IH8OFxpoe0
— Gregg Drinnan (@gdrinnan) July 28, 2023
FROM THE QUOTE RACK:
Prince George hosted a dog show last weekend, or as they call it in Edmonton, an Elks home game.
*Contributor Marc Ragovin of New York
Seven players at least have now been suspended for 2023 by the NFL for betting on football. How long until the odds this season for the total future number of suspensions are listed with official NFL sponsors DraftKings and FanDuel?
*Comedy writer Janice Hough of Palo Alto, California
One publication calls Las Vegas Raiders QB Jimmy Garoppolo an ‘X factor’. I agree—-one more significant injury and he’ll be an ex-NFL QB.
*Contributor Bill Littlejohn of South Lake Tahoe, California
Metro UK reports a flock of sheep in Wales went on a rampage after eating discarded cannabis plants. Stoned? They were lamb-basted.
*Comedy writer RJ Currie of Winnipeg
Hartley Miller is the news and sports supervisor plus morning news anchor for 94.3 the GOAT and Country 97fm. After growing up in Winnipeg, he has lived in Prince George for the last 44 years and completed his 10th season as the radio colour commentator on the Prince George Cougars home games. Hartley is the author of You Don’t Say (sports quotes).