With several Prince George Spruce Kings moving on to college hockey and other life endeavours, the team is filling the voids with new talent from across the continent.
Over a course of seven days, 12 fresh faces have signed with the reigning B.C. Hockey League (BCHL) and Doyle Cup champions, by acquisition or commitment, including seven Canadians, four Americans, and one European with dual citizenship.
Among the new players include one goaltender, eight forwards, and the son of a Stanley Cup champion with a famous franchise.
It's also worth noting that five of the new guys are already committed to play NCAA Division One hockey, which could bring a new level of confidence going into a championship-defending season.
Let’s breakdown who’s joining the Spruce Kings, in alphabetical order:
Colton Cameron
- Age = 16 years old
- Position = Defenceman
- Hometown = Surrey, B.C.
Cameron is making the jump to the Junior ‘A’ level after spending this past year with the Valley West Giants of the B.C. Major Midget Hockey League (BCMML), scoring 20 points in 38 games, including 15 assists.
The Spruce Kings are pleased to announce the commitment of Defenseman Colton Cameron (02) for the 2019/2020 season.https://t.co/muSFJdLrXZ pic.twitter.com/b9cIcfQXom
— Spruce Kings (@SpruceKings) June 27, 2019
Carter Cochrane
- Age = 17 years old
- Position = Forward
- Hometown = Victoria, B.C.
Staying in the province, Cochrane put up 26 points in 33 games last year in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League, and will join Burnaby Winter Club teammate Fin Williams on the 2019-20 roster.
Brendan Hill
- Age = 18 years old
- Position = Defenceman
- Hometown = South Lyon, Michigan, USA
- Committed = Lake Superior State University (2020-21)
Hill is well-known around the Detroit hockey community as a two-way blue-liner, suiting up for Detroit Catholic Central High School and putting together a two-season total of 31 points in 54 games.
Cole Leal
- Age = 18 years old
- Position = Defenceman
- Hometown = Belleville, Ontario
The Canadian moved to Lake Placid, New York two years ago to join Northwood’s hockey school, recording 30 points in 82 games during the 2018-19 season.
Ryan McAllister
- Age = 17 years old
- Position = Forward
- Hometown = London, Ontario
- Committed = Western Michigan University (2020-21)
McAllister is coming over from the Greater Ontario Junior ‘B’ League (GOJHL), where he posted 37 points in 47 games between the Komoka Kings and London Nationals, including 26 assists.
The Spruce Kings are pleased to announce the commitment of Ryan McAllister for the 2019/2020 seasonhttps://t.co/Rgetcz6WgA pic.twitter.com/BVQVQ4rSHl
— Spruce Kings (@SpruceKings) June 20, 2019
Jack McGovern
- Age = 17 years old
- Position = Goaltender
- Hometown = Waterdown, Ontario
Suiting up for the St. Catherines Falcons, also in the GOJHL, McGovern had 20 wins in 23 starts between the pipes, including four shutouts and posting a 1.90 goals-against-average.
Jake McLean
- Age = 16 years old
- Position = Forward
- Hometown = North Vancouver, B.C.
McLean averaged over a point-per-game in the BCMML last year with the Vancouver North West Hawks, tallying 19 goals and 48 points altogether.
The Spruce Kings are pleased to announce the commitment of Forward Jake McLean (02) for the 2019/2020 seasonhttps://t.co/sY9yFOuWFG pic.twitter.com/vrMhbMBHR7
— Spruce Kings (@SpruceKings) June 27, 2019
Brett Pfoh
- Age = 17 years old
- Position = Forward
- Hometown = Port Moody, B.C.
Joining Cochrane from the Burnaby Winter Club, Pfoh scored 19 goals and 37 points in 34 games last season.
Tom Richter
- Age = 19 years old
- Position = Forward
- Hometown = Greenwich, Connecticut, USA
- Committed = Union College (2020-21)
Richter, a product of the prestigious Salisbury Hockey Prep School, accumulated 10 points in 22 games last season.
He is also the son of Mike Richter, three-time NHL All-Star and goaltender for the 1994 Stanley Cup-champion New York Rangers.
Andrew Seaman
- Age = 19 years old
- Position = Forward
- Hometown = Winnetka, Illinois, USA
- Committed = Union College (2020-21)
Seaman was also in the United States hockey preparatory school system last year, recording 16 goals and 27 points in 32 games.
Mack Stewart
- Age = 17 years old
- Position = Forward
- Hometown = Villach, Austria
Stewart has played hockey in three different countries, including Austria and Canada, where he holds dual citizenship, as well as Germany.
This past year in the Alberta Midget Hockey League (AMHL), he averaged a point-per-game with 13 goals and 18 assists in 31 games with the Calgary Royals.
Henry Wagner
- Age = 18 years old
- Position = Forward
- Hometown = St. Louis, Missouri, USA
- Committed = Yale University (2021-22)
Wagner is set to have a strong offensive presence for Prince George starting in September after he scored 51 points (28 goals, 23 assists) in 37 games this past season with the St. Louis AAA Blues.
