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Pair of Prince George Spruce Kings nominated for year-end league awards

Layton Ahac, Logan Neaton shortlisted among BCHL’s best
Kyle Balzer
Kyle Balzer
Spruce Kings-Ahac-Neaton 2019
Layton Ahac (left) and Logan Neaton of the Prince George Spruce Kings are BCHL award finalists for the 2018-19 season (via Damon James Photography/Kyle Balzer)

Record-breaking seasons, national appearances, college commitments, and prospect potential.

Those describe Prince George Spruce Kings’ defenceman Layton Ahac and goaltender Logan Neaton, who have been named finalists for the B.C. Hockey League’s (BCHL) end of the year awards.

Ahac, a soon-to-be 18-year-old from North Vancouver, is the Mainland Division nominee for the BCHL’s Top Defenceman Award.

With two games left in the season, he has recorded 29 points (three goals, 26 assists) in 51 games and was invited to play in the 2019 Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) Prospects Game, which showcases the best ‘A’ level players from across the nation.

Ahac is listed on the NHL’s Central Scouting report as a ‘B’ candidate, meaning if he’s to be drafted this summer, it’ll likely be in the second or third round.

Neaton, a 19-year-old American import, is up for the honour of Top Goaltender in his first season with the BCHL.

He has backstopped his way to 31 wins in 46 starts, setting a new Prince George franchise record for most in a single season; the previous bar was set at 26 wins.

Overall, Neaton leads the league in goals-against-average (GAA) with 1.90, shutouts with five, minutes-played with 2,688, and, of course, wins.

This marks the second year in a row a Spruce King goaltender is nominated for the award as Evan DeBrouwer made the list last season.

Current Captain Ben Poisson received the Most Sportsmanlike Player award for the 2017-18 season, while Adam Maglio (Coach of the Year) and Ethan de Jong (MVP) were also nodded for their respective categories.

The winners will be announced after the regular season ends on Sunday (Feb. 24).

Prince George faces Chilliwack in the final series of the year at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena (RMCA) on Friday (Feb. 22) and Saturday (Feb. 23), both start at 7 p.m.

The Spruce Kings will host their first two playoff games Mar. 1 and 2.