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Penticton product excited to sign with Cougars

Okanagan Hockey Academy product Ethan O'Rourke signs standard contract with WHL's Prince George Cougars

Penticton's Ethan O'Rourke of the Okanagan Hockey Academy has signed on with the Prince George Cougars.

The OHA made the announcement on their website on Aug.2.

“Putting a pen to paper and signing my contract was a really cool feeling and I’m really excited to head to Prince George,” said O’Rourke in a release. “It certainly made it a lot easier to sign, being already familiar with the WHL. It’s an honour 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."

O'Rourke 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,” said 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.”