Saturday, November 13, 2010

HAMHUIS NAMED TEAM WHL HONOURARY CAPTAIN

Press Release

CALGARY, AB – The Western Hockey League in association with the Canadian Hockey League and SUBWAY®, today announced that former Prince George Cougars’ defenceman and Captain Dan Hamhuis will serve as Honourary Captain for the SUBWAY® Super Series game between Team WHL and the Russian National Junior Team being held in Prince George, British Columbia on Thursday, November 18th.

Hamhuis, a product of Smithers, BC, now playing for the National Hockey League’s Vancouver Canucks, began his Western Hockey League career with the Cougars as a 16-year old in the 1998-99 season and went on to play 247 games in the WHL. Hamhuis is 12th all-time in Cougars scoring, and tops among all defencemen, with 156 points, collecting 34 goals and 122 assists. The Cougars named Hamhuis the team’s Captain for the 2001-02 season and he went on to capture both the WHL Player of the Year and Top Defenceman awards in 2002, the first time any player had won both awards since 1977. Hamhuis would also claim the 2002 CHL Top Defenceman award.

The hard hitting Hamhuis was named a WHL Western Conference All-Star in 2001 and 2002 and was a member of Canada’s National Junior teams in both years. The Nashville Predators selected Hamhuis 12th overall in the 2001 NHL Entry Draft and he played there until joining the Vancouver Canucks at the start of the 2010-11 season.

“Both the WHL and the Prince George Cougars have been instrumental in my development in my hockey career,” said Hamhuis. “I am honoured that they have asked me to take part in the SUBWAY® Super Series.”

Cougars Vice President Brandi Brodsky added, “Dan is a vital part of the Prince George Cougars history and we are so excited that he is able to attend the SUBWAY® Super Series game as our honorary Captain.”

The WHL and Prince George Cougars would like to thank the Vancouver Canucks organization for allowing Dan to be in Prince George to help support the SUBWAY® Super Series.

(Nathan can be reached at fourniern@students.nescom.edu)

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