The Prince George Cougars have lost a veteran to the Expansion Draft.
2005-born forward Matteo Danis is one of 21 players headed to the WHL’s newest franchise, the Penticton Vees.
Ahead of their inaugural Western Hockey League season in 2025-26, the @PentictonVees have acquired 22 players during the 2025 WHL Expansion Draft.
📝 | https://t.co/PB85FBomn3 pic.twitter.com/pLPYUfrtWY
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) May 7, 2025
 The Cougars acquired Danis from the Calgary Hitmen in October 2023, in exchange for the Cougars’ fourth-round pick in this year’s Prospects Draft.
Danis played in 125 regular season games for the Cats, scoring 22 goals and adding 17 assists in those games.
Danis was also a strong playoff performer for the Cougars, notching six goals and three assists in 22 playoffs games, including five goals in seven post-season games this year.
In addition, the Vees picked Fort St. James product Diego Johnson from the Seattle Thunderbirds.
While he hasn’t played for the Thunderbirds, Johnson has played 173 regular season games across the BCHL, AJHL, and USHL, racking up 30 goals and 27 assists.
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