Thursday, April 29, 2010

Forsberg selected First Overall in 2010 WHL Bantam Draft by Prince George Cougars

Press Release

Edmonton, AB -- With the first overall selection in the '10 WHL Bantam Draft the Prince George Cougars selected Alex Forsberg of Waldheim, Saskatchewan.

Forsberg, a 5’9”, 170 pound centre played the 2009-10 season with the Beardy’s Blackhawks of the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League, finishing tied for third in league scoring with 26 goals and 46 assists for 72 points in 44 games, tops among all rookies in the SMAAAHL. In the 2010 SMAAAHL playoffs, Alex recorded seven goals and nine points in six games, earning a goal in Beardy’s final five games and recorded a point in all six games.

“We are proud to select a quality young man with exceptional hockey ability first overall in the draft,” said Cougars General Manager Dallas Thompson. “Alex possesses the skills necessary to become a top quality hockey player for the Prince George Cougars.”

“What he did this year in a Midget AAA setting is incredible,” said Wade Klippenstein, Cougars Assistant General Manager and Director of Player Personnel. “It’s almost unprecedented for a second year bantam player to not only play Midget AAA, but to dominate. His maturity as a player, his intelligence and his ability to score really give him all the important characteristics of becoming a great hockey player.”

“It’s really exciting to be picked first by the Cougars,” said Forsberg. “It’s great to be joining my brother in Prince George. Being the first pick happens to only one player every year and to be one of those players is really special.”

Alex is the younger brother of Cougars defenceman Jesse Forsberg. Alex and Jesse become the first brothers to both be selected by the same team in the first round of the WHL Bantam Draft. The Cougars selected Jesse 11th overall in 2008.

(Nathan also is a writer for Maineiacs Post to Post and the Maine Hockey Journal. He can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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