Six Killarney kids crack Cougar squad
Six local hockey players have cracked the U18 AAA Southwest Cougars roster this season, and two of them will play a key role in the leadership of the team.
Killarney’s Dawson Andries and Nicholas Cullen will both be assistant captains for the Southwest Cougars, rounded out by co-captains Brett Laing of Boissevain and Jace Thompson of Roseland.
“We’re looking for more consistency throughout this year,” said Dawson Andries, who’s now in his third season with the Cougars and proud to be named to their leadership group. “The season has been good so far, but hopefully with more consistency we can have greater success.”
The Cougars play the Parkland Rangers in Killarney’s Shamrock Centre on Saturday, December 3 at 8 p.m.
“It will mean a lot to play at the Shamrock Centre again,” added Andries. “Hopefully we’ll get a big crowd at the game, and come out with a big win.”
Andries currently leads the Cougars in points, with 18, followed closely behind, with 17 points, by Nicholas Cullen, who’s also in his third year with the team.
Defencemen Drew Shiels and Ryder Heaphy are tied at seven points apiece, while 6’4” forward Kylan Anderson has two points on the season so far. Fellow Killarney Minor Hockey product, goalie Evan Svoboda, has an awesome .909 save percentage on the year for the Cougars.
It’s a veteran squad this season, with Cullen and Andries at the helm, along with Shiels and Anderson who also played last season as the Cougars made a great run at the Telus Cup, just coming up short in the finals. And rookies Ryder Heaphy and Evan Svoboda are definitely fitting in nicely with the team.
The Cougars are made up of players from the Southwest Manitoba region, spanning from Killarney to Glenboro, to Carberry to the Saskatchwan border, and the US border to Highway 1.
The Cougars team will be hosting a Comedy Night on December 8 in Killarney to showcase sponsors and have a hilariously good time.
The evening will include cocktail hour, dinner, sponsor recognition, as well as player introductions, plus Canadian comic Sean Lecomber.
KILLARNEY COUGARS HOST UPCOMING HOME GAME AND COMEDY NIGHT – From left: Six-foot-four forward Kylan Anderson (protected by Selkirk Steelers); rookie goalie Evan Svoboda; rookie defenceman Ryder Heaphy (drafted by Waywayseecappo Wolverines); assistant captain Nicholas Cullen (product of OCN Blizzard); assistant captain Dawson Andries (product of Virden Oil Capitals); and defenceman Drew Shiels (drafted by Swan Valley Stampeders). They’re the Killarney contingent of the 2022-23 U18 AAA Southwest Cougars, and they’re looking forward to an upcoming home game at the Shamrock Centre on December 3, followed by a comedy night on December 8. See more details on the Cougars’ Christmas Comedy Night below.
