Cougars Sign 2010 Bantam Draft Picks Tkatch and Fontaine

Press Release

Prince George, BC – The Prince George Cougars are proud to announce the signings of 2010 WHL Bantam Draft selections Jordan Tkatch and Jarrett Fontaine to standard WHL education contracts. Tkatch and Fontaine, first cousins and both forwards from the Humboldt Bantam Broncos in 2009-10, were the Cougars second and fourth picks in the Bantam draft, respectively.

Tkatch was chosen by the Cougars in the second round, 31st overall, in the 2010 WHL Bantam Draft. Tkatch, a 5’10”, 170 pound product of Prud’Homme, Saskatchewan, collected 57 goals and 100 points for the Broncos in 24 games this past season. Tkatch is expected to play for the Prince Albert Mintos of the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League in the 2010-11 season.

“To sign with the Cougars is huge for me,” said Tkatch. “I’m really happy with the result and to be able to sign with the Cougars.”

The Cougars selected Fontaine in the third round, 52nd overall, in the 2010 Bantam Draft. The native of Humboldt, Saskatchewan amassed 61 goals and 102 points in 24 games for the Broncos in 2009-10. The 5’5”, 140 pound centre is expected to play for the SMAAAHL’s Tisdale Trojans in the fall. Fontaine and Tkatch finished first and second, respectively, in Centre Four Bantam League scoring last season.

“It’s great that the Cougars have shown so much interest in me,” said Fontaine. “It feels like they expect me to be a good player for the team in a few years and hopefully that will work out.”

“It’s very exciting to add these two gentlemen to our hockey club,” added Cougars Assistant General Manager and Director of Player Personnel Wade Klippenstein. “We have a mandate to add speed and skill and these two guys are among the most skilled players in the province of Saskatchewan. When you combine them with our first pick in the draft, Alex Forsberg, we think we have three of the best forwards in Saskatchewan among the 1995 birth year.”

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