Cougars sign WHL veteran Holowko, call up Beamin
The Prince George Cougars have made a pair of roster moves ahead of the WHL Christmas break, General Manager Todd Harkins announced Tuesday.
The Cougars have signed 20-year-old forward Nic Holowko off of WHL waivers. Holowko started the season with the Kamloops Blazers. In seven games with the Blazers, Holowko had four points (3G-1A). The 6-foot-0, 190-pound Burnaby, B.C., product is a veteran of over four seasons and 208 games in the WHL with the Seattle Thunderbirds, Kamloops Blazers and Prince Albert Raiders. Since making his debut in September 2014, Holowko has compiled 53 points (21G-32A) to go along with 100 penalty-minutes.
In a corresponding move, the Cougars have placed fellow 20-year-old forward Brogan O’Brien on the Injured Reserve (lower-body) and he is listed as month-to-month. O’Brien suffered a lower-body injury Sunday in the Cougars’ game against Victoria. The Prince George native sits fourth in team scoring with 10 goals and 21 points in 29 games.
Holowko will add some much-needed size and experience according to Harkins.
“He’s a veteran piece that we can insert into our line-up after losing O’Brien on the weekend,” Harkins said. “Nic is a power-forward, who fits in very well with our style of play and he’ll add some grit to our forward group.
“Losing Brogan is significant, as he’s such a terrific leader on and off the ice, and he was really coming into his own. You can’t replace that type of character in your dressing room but we know we have a group that can rally around their injured teammate.”
Prince George has also recalled 16-year-old Cole Beamin from the Saskatoon Contacts of the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League (SMAAAHL). The 6-foot-3, 210-pound rear-guard is an alternate captain with the Contacts and has six points (2G-4A) in 18 games. Beamin was the Cougars second-round pick, 31st overall, in the 2016 WHL Bantam Draft. His call-up coincides with Captain Dennis Cholowski being at Canada’s National Junior Team Sport Chek Selection Camp in St. Catherines, Ont.
Holowko will wear number 17 and Beamin will wear number 19, and both could make their Cougar debuts tonight against the Victoria Royals.
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