Prince George Spruce Kings assistant coach Adam Maglio knew there was something special about Chong Hyun Lee when he saw him skate last summer at a skill development camp in Vancouver.
At that time, Lee was a relative unknown, a 19-year-old forward from South Korea with an itching desire to play hockey in Canada. Already living in Vancouver with his mother and brother, the Spruce Kings were unable to sign Lee because he was still in the process of getting his release from Korea to finalize his carding transfer to Hockey Canada.
Lee's agent knew Frank Iantorno, general manager of the Port Moody Panthers, which led to Lee signing with the Pacific Junior (B) Hockey League team in December and he made an immediate impact. After just 19 games, he leads the Panthers in scoring with 14 goals and 24 points.
On Tuesday, the Spruce Kings made it official they've signed Lee to play for the team next season and they've called him up for his second stint as an affiliated player. He's expected to be in the lineup tonight at the Coliseum where the Kings play the Mainland-Division-leading Chilliwack Chiefs.
Lee will remain in Prince George for the Kings' game Saturday at home against the Merritt Centennials and for their Wednesday date at the Coliseum against the Vernon Vipers.
Lee is still working on his English fluency, but as he demonstrated to the Coliseum faithful a couple weeks ago, he's well-versed in hockey. In four games with the Kings he has a goal and two assists. He scored a power-play goal in the Kings' 4-2 loss to Victoria Jan. 15. The six-foot-one, 198-pound right winger skates well, has a good shot, is hard on the puck on the forecheck and is responsible defensively.
Admiral Vladivostok of the Kontinental Hockey League obviously liked Lee enough to select him in the second round of the 2013 draft, 64th overall, and he eventually made his way to the North American Hockey League, playing for two junior teams last season in La Crosse, Wisc. He also scored two goals and eight points in five games for South Korea at the Division 2A world junior championship.
"After his games with us, he obviously can play in this league and be a very effective player, so we decided we'd like to commit to him and (Lee and his agent) decided they'd like to commit to Prince George next year," said Maglio. "He adds what we want, some size, skating ability and some finish around the net. We'll only have him for one year, but his ambition is to try to get a (college) scholarship.
"It's a good fit for him and I know the Korean Hockey Federation is happy with him playing in this league. He's part of the senior national team now and their goal is to get him ready for the 2018 Olympics."
Affiliated players are allowed to play a maximum of 10 BCHL games, provided the team which holds that player's rights is still playing games. But in Lee's case with the Panthers out of the playoff hunt and their season ending Feb. 13, he could be available to play more than 10. The Kings' last four regular season games against Langley, Alberni Valley and Surrey (twice), are all after the Panthers' season ends.
Kings head coach Chad van Diemen had Lee playing on a line with Kyle Johnson and Tanner Campbell, but with Campbell still out with an ankle injury suffered a week ago against Langley, one of the team's other left wingers will draw top-line duty.
Lee's 16-year-old brother Chong Min, is in his second season playing major midget hockey as a forward with the Vancouver Northeast Chiefs. He has 10 goals and 28 points in 26 games.
Defenceman Colton Sandberg, acquired along with future considerations in a deadline deal which sent defenceman Adam Brubacher to Powell River, is still out with a shoulder injury. Sandberg is skating with the team in practice but is not taking any contact.
The Kings have also called up RW Ben Poisson from the Burnaby Winter Club academy under-18 team. Poisson, a 16-year-old from Vancouver, has played four games for the Spruce Kings as an affiliate.
