The Prince George Cougars have added a couple of players at the WHL trade deadline, bolstering their line up for an anticipated playoff run.
Prince George Cougars General Manager Todd Harkins announced this morning that the Prince George Cougars have acquired Chicago Blackhawks prospect Radovan Bondra (Trebisov, SVK) in a trade with the Vancouver Giants in exchange for 1998-born forward Bartek Bison, 2000-born forward Tyler Ho and a third round draft pick in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft.
Originally selected by the Vancouver Giants eighth overall in the 2015 CHL Import Draft, the 6’5”, 221 pound Slovak has scored 19 goals and added 12 assists for 31 points in 32 games this season with the Vancouver Giants. In 90 career WHL games (all with Vancouver) Bondra has struck for 34 goals, 27 assists and 42 penalty minutes. He was selected by the Chicago Blackhawks in the fifth round (151st overall) of the 2015 NHL Draft.
Internationally Bondra has represented Slovakia in each of the past three seasons at the World Junior Hockey Championship tournament. Twice he’s suited up for Slovakia for the World Under-18’s and once at the World Under-17’s. Prior to joining the Vancouver Giants he played for HC Kosice in the Slovak Extraliga and had two goals and two assists in 15 games. He played in 15 playoff games and had a goal and two assists en route to a Slovakian Extraliga championship.
Harkins adds, “It was very difficult to part with both Bartek and Tyler, but it was necessary to do so in order to acquire a player like Bondra. Bartek will bring a ton of passion and grit to the Giants and Tyler will play a huge part in their future success. I wish both of them the very best.”
Bondra will meet his new teammates tonight in Red Deer and will travel with the team for the remainder of their road trip, which also includes games Wednesday in Medicine Hat, Friday in Lethbridge and Saturday in Calgary. The Cougars first home-game post trade deadline will take place on Tuesday, January 17 against the Portland Winterhawks.
The Prince George Cougars have acquired 1997-born forward Tanner Wishnowski (Oakbank, MB) from the Spokane Chiefs in exchange for a conditional eighth round draft pick in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft.
Originally listed by the Kelowna Rockets in 2013, Wishnowski has split this season with the Spokane Chiefs and the Kelowna Rockets. In 23 games the 6’0”, 186 pounder has registered three goals along with seven assists and 28 penalty minutes. Last season in 54 games with the Kelowna Rockets he registered seven goals, six assists and 53 penalty minutes. He dressed in 18 playoff games during the 2016 postseason with Kelowna and had three assists and 11 penalty minutes. In 78 career WHL games (with Spokane and Kelowna) he has 11 goals, 13 assists and 81 penalty minutes.
“Tanner is a very difficult player to play against and he’s going to add a great deal of depth and experience to our lineup,” said Cougars General Manager, Todd Harkins. “He’s a big body who skates well and can create havoc in all three zones. We’re very excited to welcome Tanner to the Prince George Cougars family.”
Tanner will join the team back in Prince George at the conclusion of this road trip which includes games tonight in Red Deer, tomorrow night in Medicine Hat, Friday night in Lethbridge and Saturday night in Calgary.
