Harkins finds new home with Pats
Prince George GM’s son looking forward to soaking up Memorial Cup experience
Jonas Harkins is a stay-at-home defenceman in name only.
Although that label certainly applies to his playing style, Harkins felt it was the right time to leave the nest when the Prince George Cougars dealt him to the Regina Pats before last week’s WHL trade deadline.
“It’s different here not being around my family, but you have to expect that as a junior hockey player,” offered Harkins, whose brother Jansen played in Prince George before turning pro this season. “This is the lifestyle, so I’m just getting into the real stuff (now). You’re going to have to get used to it.”
Harkins understands the lifestyle better than most. He grew up around the game due to his father Todd, a former NHLer who’s the general manager in Prince George.
Playing for his dad had positives and negatives.
“When I first got drafted I was a little skeptical about it,” admitted Jonas, a second-round pick in the 2015 bantam draft. “I had guys telling me: ‘You just got drafted because of your dad.’ It was actually the owner who wanted me to get drafted. My dad wasn’t going to. It was nice because my family lives there. I’m very grateful because of that.”
Harkins is also grateful he was traded to the host team for the 2018 Memorial Cup.
Although he enjoyed his time in Prince George, he felt like a change of scenery could be beneficial.
“I was trying to work my way up, but I wasn’t getting much ice,” said the rookie defender, who had one assist in 14 games this season. “Me and my dad had a talk and thought it might be time to get a trade.
“I knew there were a couple options, but I didn’t get a choice. I’m glad this was the team. It’s a first-class organization. Knowing a team wants you makes you feel pretty good about yourself, especially this team. I’m sad to leave (Prince George), but it’s a new start and I’m pretty excited about it.”
Harkins may not get much ice time with his new team, either. He’s expected to serve as the seventh defenceman with the Pats, whose blue-line is stacked with 19-year-old veterans who are considered one of the club’s strengths.
“With any team when you’re younger, you have to prove yourself to get your ice time,” Harkins said upon his arrival. “It’s important that you work hard and do the right things, especially being in the Memorial Cup.
“It’s going to be older guys who are mature that are going to be taking the big roles. If you’re lucky and you work hard, it’ll pay off and you’ll get to play in a Memorial Cup.”
Although the Pats made some significant blue-line additions at the deadline — acquiring Libor Hajek, Aaron Hyman and Brady Pouteau — Harkins could be one injury away from regular ice time. He can also look forward to a big opportunity next season when Regina loses the majority of its defencemen.
“I’m hoping to get a bigger role next year,” said the six-foot-three, 225-pounder, who turned 17 on Dec. 26. “I’m going to have to step it up and be a leader on the team. I’m looking forward to the years to come, ( but) especially this year.”
Of all the players the Pats acquired at the deadline, Harkins was the only one they picked up with the future in mind. The coaches wanted to bring a young player into the fold who could be moulded for a larger role next season.
“There’s lots of work to do with him,” Pats head coach/GM John Paddock said after completing the deal. “He’s a really young player who has a chance to develop. You need different combinations on defence. He’s not the kind of defenceman that we’ve been accustomed to having … but we need those kind of big, rugged defencemen.”