Aug 02, 2014

The Okanagan Hockey Academy is pleased to congratulate forward Ethan O’Rourke, who has signed a standard Western Hockey League contract with the Prince George Cougars, the team announced Thursday. 

“Putting a pen to paper and signing my contract was a really cool feeling and I’m really excited to head to Prince George,” stated O’Rourke in the team’s press release. “It certainly made it a lot easier to sign, being already familiar with the WHL. It’s an honor to be drafted, and even cooler to be drafted to a team in B.C.”

O’Rourke spent last season with the OHA Bantam Prep squad, posting 35 points (18-17-35) in 58 games. He was selected in the third round, 53rd overall, by the Cougars in the 2014 WHL Bantam Draft.

"Ethan is a great skating forward who possesses size, speed and skill,” said OHA Bantam Prep coach, Mike Needham. “He has tremendous work ethic and unlimited potential."

The Penticton, BC product was recently named one of the 27 shortlisted players by Hockey BC for the Team BC Under-16 squad that will compete at the 2015 Canada Winter Games. O’Rourke will return to OHA for the 2014-15 season.

“Ethan O’Rourke is a player who improved every time I saw him play,” stated Cougars General Manager, Todd Harkins. “For a bigger player he is able to skate really well, has skill around the net and is able to compete in all three zones.”