The 麻豆社国产Wolf Pack Pacific International Hockey League (PIJHL) team has expanded to include three more skaters. All three are former 麻豆社国产residents, and one will seem familiar to former Cougars fans.Following a rookie camp in Burnaby July 5 and 6, and a trade with the Golden Rockets, Dustin Urdea and brothers Cole and Hunter Nelson have signed onto the local Junior B team.Cougars fans will be pleased to see Cole's return after watching his skills during his stint with the 麻豆社国产Cougars two years ago."He's a really good guy to have on your team," said head coach Matt Samson, who coached Cole two years ago. "Playing seasons in this league, or in a comparable league, gives you a veteran guy for your team. He'll be a leader in the dressing room - on and off the ice."Golden Rockets coach Rockie Zinger said the team traded Cole, along with "promising young forward" Urdea to the Wolf Pack in exchange for future considerations. Zinger had weighty praise for the elder Nelson brother."I've never coached a player that was willing to sacrifice his boy the way that Cole did for us last year. There were times that he would lay down to block shots, and us as a coaching staff would keep our fingers crossed that he was going to get up."Cole's decision to return to school led to the switch in teams.Zinger also praised Urdea who, as a 17-year-old last year racked up 16 goals and five assists for a total of 21 points in his rookie season, showed some grittiness, which was evident by the 106 penalty minutes he amassed in the 51 games he played."We were a little reluctant to move a player of Dustin's ability," said Zinger, "but with some of the players that we have returning taking on bigger roles this season, along with some of the new players that are going to pull on the Rockets jersey this year, something had to give."Eighteen-year-old Hunter is a great prospect - so much so that the Junior A team in Prince George may be keen to pick him up. But "just in case," the Wolf Pack signed him despite the possibility he might be asked to join the Junior A league, said Samson."I think he's got a good chance of making Prince George, I hope he does, but we wanted to get his rights just in case it doesn't work out, and we'll be able to have him for us this season."With no ice at the Brennan Field rink at the moment, the team is holding rookie camps in other parts of the Lower Mainland. But fans should watch for things to start heating up locally come Aug. 21, said Samson.
