NHL draft prospect Jared Bethune opts out of NCAA commitment for the Prince George Cougars

Christmas came early for the Prince George Cougars last week when former Minnesota Duluth-commit Jared Bethune told GM Todd Harkins that he wants to be a part of the New Ice Age. The addition of the 6-foot-1, 185-pound centre not only boosts the Cougars’ offense, but also ensures they have one of the best groups of 1997-born talent in the Western Hockey League.

“He’s a big-time talent,” says Harkins. “He came up through the high school system and made a name for himself there. He’s on the cusp of taking that next step and is going to get better and better.”

The process of trying to recruit Bethune dates back to midway through last season. Prince George listed the 17-year-old sniper and made a pitch to his family on what the team and league can offer him.

“It all started when I heard about him last year through U.S. contacts and listed him,” says Harkins. “I later went and talked with his family and explained what the Cougars can offer him. Then he started the year in the USHL, but last Thursday he called me and told me he left Lincoln and that he wanted to be a Prince George Cougar. After going over with him everything that he needed to know about the league, he was still set on playing here so we signed him."

Even though Bethune set up plans to play for the Minnesota Bulldogs in 2015-16, he wasn’t sure if the NCAA was his best development option. But after learning more about the Cougars and finding out his 2014-15 team, the USHL’s Lincoln Stars, were going to trade him, he decided to pack his bags and head north of the 49 parallel.

“I’ve been thinking about the WHL since last Christmas,” says Bethune, who scored two goals and five points in six games with the Stars last season. “I kind of committed to college there, but I still was thinking about Prince George. Todd Harkins, who was then the head scout of the team, came and talked to my family and me and let us know what the league is all about and that got me thinking more about it. Then this summer I played in the (Canada’s) U18 summer camp and I thought if I can play at this level, I should be able to play in the WHL. Then once I found out that Lincoln was going to trade me, I talked it over with my family and we decided this was the best opportunity for me.”

Bethune’s draft status played a role in his decision. When he saw that NHL Central Scouting Service ranked him as a “B-list” prospect in their first 2015 draft ranking, it gave him a confidence boost in his future in hockey. It led to him believing that he should do what's best for his long-term development, even if it means giving up a college scholarship.

“It did affect my decision when I saw the ranking,” says Bethune, who was born in Fort Frances, Ont. “I didn’t really expect to be ranked that high, so it kind of helped me make the decision that’s best for my development.”

It has ultimately been business as usual over the last couple of seasons to see highly regarded U.S. college players or commits decide they are better suited for the major junior route. Just last year, New York Rangers prospect Adam Tambellini (Calgary Hitmen) and St. Louis Blues second-rounder Tommy Vannelli (Medicine Hat Tigers) left the NCAA for the WHL. In addition, University of North Dakota-commit Ryan Gropp passed on his future scholarship to join the Seattle Thunderbirds. These precedents made Bethune think more about the WHL, but the bottom line is his decision came down to what he thought was best for his development.

“I thought this was my best option,” he says. “There’s more games, it’s a tougher league and a higher level than the USHL. The college route is good, but I felt this was my best option. I heard about other guys leaving for the WHL and it shows it is a good league, but I just made my decision based on what’s best for me.”

For the Cougars, recruiting Bethune is proof in the pudding that the organization has started a new chapter under their new ownership group, which consists of local businessman Greg Pocock and NHL blueliners Dan Hamhuis and Eric Brewer. The team was used to being on the other end of the spectrum when Rick Brodsky was the owner and Dallas Thompson sat in the GM chair. In the 2013 bantam draft, for example, top prospects Nolan Patrick and Kale Clague told the Cougars they wouldn’t report if they drafted them. It's a breath of fresh air for the league and its fans to see that Prince George's ownership group is now a selling point for the team.

“The new ownership definitely played into it,” says Bethune. “I heard about how the new owners were turning the team around and that Prince George is a much tougher place to play now. I also heard about the excitement about the new Ice Age and the other stuff (rink upgrades) the owners were doing to help the team.”

The 6-4-0-0 Cougars should ultimately be a lock to make the post-season this year following missing the playoffs the last three years. Bethune adds more fire to their young, talented group of forwards and Ty Edmonds has been solid in the blue paint. But when looking passed this season, suddenly Prince George has went from the B.C. Division’s whipping boy to a team that has the potential to be one of league’s better squads next season and the year after. Few and far between have a stronger young core than forwards Jansen Harkins, Brad Morrison, Bethune, defender Tate Olson and Edmonds.

Kelly Friesen is a Buzzing the Net columnist for Yahoo! Sports. Follow him on Twitter @KellyFriesen