After a five-month hiatus, the Prince George Spruce Kings will return to action next weekend on the road in Surrey. They will kick off their 28th B.C. Hockey League regular season against the defending BCHL champion Surrey Eagles.
Facing one of the top teams in the league in their own arena early in the season will help gauge how much the Spruce Kings have progressed.
After last year's challenging season, there's only one way to go: up.
The 2023-24 season was one to forget. The Kings struggled from the start, finishing at the bottom of the Interior Conference standings with a 16-35-3-0-0 record, which ranked 16th in the 17-team league. They had the BCHL’s worst defence and were among the lowest in goals-for.
General manager Mike Hawes and head coach Alex Evin had a tough task recruiting a team that could improve their record, further complicated by the addition of five Alberta teams leaving the Alberta Junior Hockey League to join the BCHL last December.
However, the Spruce Kings seem to have addressed their roster deficiencies with a new group of players alongside 12 returning members from last season.
After allowing an average of 4.37 goals per game during the 54-game regular season, the Kings are relying on 19-year-old goaltender Carter Wishart, a Colgate University recruit from Minnesota, to be their primary netminder. Wishart posted solid numbers in two junior seasons with the NAHL's Chippewa Steel and has the size (six-foot-two, 182 pounds) scouts like. Ryder Green, a 17-year-old from Prince George, also showed promise during his brief stint in BCHL action last season, almost leading the team to a playoff upset against Penticton in a memorable double-overtime loss.
“Carter has been a great addition,” said Hawes. “He played extremely well in Surrey. We’re very pleased with what we saw. It’s important to have a good goaltender at our level to have any success, and last year we really struggled in that department. With Carter and Ryder, we’re confident we’ve solidified that position.”
The Kings have strengthened their defence, with Maks Percic, a Slovenian who split last season between the Vernon Vipers and Merritt Centennials, being a key addition. Percic, who has BCHL playoff experience, previously played in Finland.
“Maks has been a great addition so far,” said Hawes. “He excelled in fitness testing at camp. He’s a very talented and fit player who leads by example and is tough to play against. We’re thrilled to have him.”
Another defenceman to watch is 17-year-old Jayden Connors, a New Hampshire recruit from Scarborough, Ont., who had strong numbers (2-21-23) as a junior rookie with St. Michael’s (OJHL). Aiden Souligny returns for one more season in Prince George before heading to Boston University, joining Evan Bellamy and 20-year-old Trent Ballentyne as returning blueliners. Zachery Hachey and Prince George native Brody Martin are also part of the defensive group.
“It’s definitely a work in progress, and we’re going to need a lot from the returning players. The onus is on them to perform, both as a group and individually,” said Hawes. “There are high expectations for our team, and it will start with the D corps.”
Hawes is optimistic about the depth of his forward group, which was a primary focus over the summer.
Japanese import Kazumo Sasaki, who collected 47 points in his BCHL debut season and represented Japan in the world junior IA tournament, is expected to be a major point producer again as he prepares for a college hockey future at Lake Superior State.
Six other Kings forwards are committed to NCAA schools, including returnees Owen Goodbrand (Bentley), Lucas Veilleux (Colgate), and Skogan Schrott (Michigan Tech). Three new additions include Princeton-bound right winger Ryan Wachtel, a New Jersey native who scored regularly (17-22-39) in high school hockey at Brunswick School.
The Kings also acquired 18-year-old Brock Cummings, a six-foot-two, 194-pound centre, in the Luca Primerano trade with Cowichan Valley. Cummings is coming off a 34-point rookie season with the Caps.
Another player to watch is left winger Cooper Williams, a Michigan native who secured a scholarship at Lake Superior State after a standout season with Compuware 16U (43 goals, 69 points).
Vanderhoof native Linden Makow, 20, will wear the ‘C’ for Prince George and aims to improve on his 16-goal, 34-point season. Vital Dinis, Carter Hesselgrave, and Brogan McNeil are also returning forwards.
“I don’t think anyone was really happy with the season last year,” said Hawes. “Linden has a lot to prove this year. He knows it’s his last shot as a 20-year-old player. He’s going to be a leader for us, and we’re looking for big things from him.”
RIT recruit Will Moore, a 20-year-old from Indiana, had 40 points in 45 games with the Johnstown Tomahawks. Moore had off-season shoulder surgery but is expected to be available soon.
Mason Loewen, a native of Charlie Lake, was second in scoring with the Cariboo Cougars (55 points), and the Kings also have Rylan Bissett, who ranked third on the Cariboo U18s with 54 points. Aidan Carolan, 19, from Oshawa, Ont., is also contending for a forward spot as a BCHL rookie coming off a 30-point season in the CCHL with the Brockville Braves.
“I think to win at our level, you need nine top-six forwards, and I think we’ve achieved that,” said Hawes. “We have a mix of grit, strong checkers, and players who can contribute offensively.”
Goodbrand will start the season on the injured reserve list, but Hawes is hopeful he will return soon.
Kings fans won’t get to see all the Alberta teams at Kopar Arena. Games against the Brooks Bandits and Okotoks Oilers are scheduled on the road (Oct. 11-12). The Blackfalds Bulldogs will play Prince George for the BHCL Showcase game in Abbotsford - designated a Spruce Kings home game - on Oct. 15, followed by the Spruce Grove Saints (Nov. 23) and Sherwood Park Crusaders (March 16).
The BCHL has raised its level of play since becoming independent from Hockey Canada a year ago, adding European players to the mix. The 17 incumbent teams will need to up their game to keep pace with the Alberta teams, led by the Bandits, who won three consecutive junior A national championships starting with their victory over the Spruce Kings in the 2019 national final.
“The recruiting for everyone has increased, so the talent in the league is better and higher than I’ve ever seen it,” said Hawes. “The addition of these five high-end teams elevates our league even more, and teams will have to step up their game to earn points.”
The Spruce Kings return to the Mainland Division for the first time since 2021, making travel a bit easier for Prince George, the northernmost team in the 21-team BCHL.
The Kings will host the Langley Rivermen this Friday at 7 p.m. and Saturday at 2 p.m. to close out the preseason. Tickets are available online, at the gate, or at the Kings’ office at Kopar Arena.
