Brett Zarowny gave his mom, Michelle, the thumbs up last week while on a phone call.  On the other end of the line was Trevor Keeper, Team Alberta's head coach at the 2011 Canada Winter Games in Halifax, Nova Scotia next February.  Keeper was giving Zarowny the good news that he was one of 20 players, and two goaltenders, to be named to Team Alberta for the Canada Winter Games, which was a big day for Brett when he got word of his selection.

"Pretty happy about it, obviously.  I was pretty excited," said Zarowny, who was the highest goalie the Prince George Cougars have selected in a bantam draft, taken in the third round, 45th overall in April.  "My mom was right there with me, so I gave the thumbs up to her and she was excited.  It was a good time."

Zarowny, who hails from Edmonton, is playing this season with the Knights of Columbus Pats of the Alberta Major Midget Hockey League, splitting time with another Cougars goaltending prospect, 16 year old Tyler Santos.  Zarowny, who is just 15 years old, made cracking Team Alberta an achievement to reach at the start of the season, with his own progression improving as the year goes on.

"It was definitely a big goal to try to make the team.  When I look at the start of the season until now, I was facing the bottom teams in the league and I wasn't getting as many shots, but I was progressing better and better," said Zarowny.  "But right now, my coach (Rick Swan) doesn't care who we're playing, I can play against anybody in the league.  I'm playing better too and I've been able to develop and adjust to the speed of the game really well."

A big help for Zarowny is his familiarity with Cougars goaltending coach Blaine Russell, who Brett has worked with the last eight years.  Preparing for hopefully being a Cougar one day is a tremendous help for Zarowny from Russell.

"He's really tried to help me get adjusted to the speed in the WHL, too.  It's a really big adjustment to the Western Hockey League, so we've been working on that.  Just since I was a little kid in atom until now, Blaine has really worked with me on positioning.  Positioning is huge at every level."

Zarowny was at home on the computer when he realized the Cougars had selected him in the 2010 WHL Bantam Draft.  Zarowny was pleased with the result and is excited about being part of a blossoming Cougars future.

"They had the first overall draft pick so I feel I'm a part of a rebuilding process.  I was pretty excited and I knew a couple of guys who went there and I know Blaine, so I'm really looking forward to everything that lies ahead."

The 2011 Canada Winter Games in Halifax runs February 11-27, 2011.