Braeden Cootes is giving his world junior chase a boost.

Cootes is the Vancouver Canucks ’ first-round draft pick (No. 15) from this summer and he talked in the preseason about how making Team Canada for this upcoming incarnation of the holiday-time tournament was one of his main goals for the campaign. That roster is expected to be announced in early December and Cootes is coming off earning first-star honours in the Seattle Thunderbirds’ 5-3 win over the visiting Regina Pats on Saturday.

The 18-year-old centre had a goal, a plus-two rating, three shots and took 27 face-offs, winning 13 of them. It was Teddy Bear Toss Night in Kent, Wash., and Cootes’ first-period marker created a flying frenzy of furry folks.

He also had a goal the night before in a 7-4 triumph over the visiting V

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