A former Fort Saskatchewan U16 AAA Ranger has made the jump to the WHL.
Ismail Abougouche, who was born in Lac La Biche but spent the last three years playing hockey in Fort Saskatchewan, has cracked the lineup for the Kelowna Rockets.
Abougouche, 16, is the first 12th-round pick in franchise history to make the team.
Usually, a late draft pick such as Abougouche would be sent back to his junior team after a short stint in training camp, but that wasn't what he experienced.
“I was told I was going to be here for five days, but it turns out I got invited to the main camp,” Abougouche told KelownaRockets.com. “The coaches kept telling me they wanted me here longer and longer, and now I’m on the team.”
Through nine games with the Rockets, Abougouche has recorded one assist.
He joins Fort Saskatchewan native Colton Dach on the Rockets roster.