Following last night’s (Nov. 22) 4-2 setback in Merritt, Prince George’s third of a five-game road-trip, Spruce Kings management has decided it’s time for a change.
At the halfway mark of the 2019-20 season, the defending Fred Page and Doyle Cup champions are under 500 at 10-14-2-3 and with the Sunday, Dec. 1 carding deadline looming, General Manager Mike Hawes anticipates more roster moves in addition to trading away back-up goaltender Jack McGovern.
“The expectation is that all Spruce Kings players will compete hard and do whatever is best for the team every game,” Hawes said in a team release.
“I don’t feel that we are getting that from some players consistently enough. Some guys are just out on the ice doing just enough to get by and not really accomplishing anything. I wouldn’t be doing my job if I sit by and allow that. Again, it is not all players, but it’s hard to have success when you have a few that are not meeting the expectation.”
McGovern was sent to his home province of Ontario and the Rockland Nationals of the Central Canada Junior ‘A’ Hockey League, in which the Spruce Kings are receiving future considerations from the exchange.
The 18-year-old only stood between the pipes for a full 60 minutes twice this year and was either pulled or sent out in relief of Jett Alexander on three other occasions, resulting in an 0-2 record and a 6.49 goals-against average.
“Unfortunately, it came to the point where we needed to make a change,” adds Hawes on McGovern, who was picked up this off-season after Prince George traded last year’s back-up netminder Keenan Rancier to Saskatchewan for Preston Brodziak.
“I think Jack will be the first to admit that he did not play as well as he could of in the opportunities he had with us. Jack is a great kid and is a good goalie who will bounce back with this change.”
McGovern didn’t suit up in Friday’s loss to Merritt as his replacement was called up by the Spruce Kings and even got a chance to play over 30 minutes in relief.
Carter Woodside has officially been added to the red, white and blue, coming from the Princeton Posse of the Kootenay International Junior ‘B’ Hockey League (KIJHL) and stopped all 12 shots he faced from the Centennials.
Alexander let four pucks get by him against the second-last team in the BCHL and has been the go-to goaltender since the start, but Hawes believes he shouldn’t have to do all the heavy-lifting.
“We are fortunate to be able to add Carter to our team,” said Hawes. “Carter is someone we have known for a while back to his midget days with the Prince Albert Mintos. Jett Alexander can’t play every game and having another goalie that we know can get the job done is important. Carter will more than provide that”.
Woodside, an 18-year-old from Asquith, Sask., is 3-0 this season with Princeton and also has Junior ‘A’ and major junior experience from his home province.
Prince George has the weekend off, but will be back on ice Monday (Nov. 25) for a clash in Wenatchee at 6 p.m.
They’ll head back north of the border to Penticton to wrap up the extended swing on Wednesday (Nov. 27).
GOAL HIGHLIGHTS | Corey Cunningham and Mason Waite with the Spruce Kings tallies tonight in Merritt. pic.twitter.com/HGxQsAU19r
— Spruce Kings (@SpruceKings) November 23, 2019
