A new castle to conquer!
The Prince George Spruce Kings are lower-mainland bound in coordination with the shortened, COVID-19 safety-approved BCHL season.
The team will be housed in the Chilliwack pod, one of five confirmed across the province as part of the league's return-to-play plan, alongside the host-Chiefs and the Merritt Centennials.
Starting the first full week of April, the 2020-21 campaign will span five weeks, with reports speculating it'll consist of 18 to 20 games.
All of Prince George's ice time will be in the Chilliwack Coliseum.
In an interview with Sportsnet 650 on March 12 following the season's confirmation, BCHL Commissioner Chris Hebb mentioned while playoffs are not in the league's plan, it may be considered if COVID-19 provincial public health orders are loosened in a way that travel would be allowed.
Currently, Dr. Bonnie Henry has an order in effect for no sports travel from region to region, but the conditions of the BCHL's return-to-play were approved by the provincial government.
The league has also hired a Chief Medical Officer to ensure health and safety protocols are met, which is set to include COVID-19 testing and a quarantine period for players and team staff.
Hebb on 650: "Nature of the league is to expose our players [...] it's very difficult for scouts & coaches to understand who you are as a player," when talking about Jr. A athletes performing with people watching online | #CityOfPG
— Kyle Balzer (@KyleBalzer) March 12, 2021
The last time the Spruce Kings played a competitive contest was Nov. 15, 2020, in Trail in the extended preseason.
They finished with a 4-2-0-1 record against their cohort during that campaign, which included four games against Merritt.
Prince George went 3-1 against the Cents in exhibition play following an 0-2 record from the 2019-20 season when they were competing in separate divisions.
In eight tilts against Chilliwack that same year, the Kings only registered one victory.
The BCHL pods, locations and teams are as follows:
- Chilliwack = Chiefs, Prince George and Merritt
- Coquitlam = Express, Surrey Eagles and Powell River Kings
- Penticton = Vees, Cranbrook Bucks and Trail Smoke Eaters
- Port Alberni = Bulldogs, Cowichan Valley Capitals, Nanaimo Clippers and Victoria Grizzlies
- Vernon = Vipers, Salmon Arm Silverbacks and West Kelowna Warriors
The Langley Rivermen opted out of the 2020-21 season on March 13, citing health concerns and education commitments by its players.
On Nov. 24, 2020, the Wenatchee Wild cancelled its participation due to the continued Canada-U.S. border closure to non-essential travel.
