Memories will be flowing tonight as the original Spruce Kings junior hockey team is honoured at the Prince George Coliseum.

It was the fall of 1972 when the Spruce Kings skated onto Coliseum ice for the very first time. In need of an organized league, the Kings joined the Pacific Northwest Hockey League. Prince George, with an average age of just over 16 years, entered the PNHL anchored by the much older Smithers Totems, Houston Luckies and Kitimat Intermediates. Gradually maturing on and off the ice the Spruce Kings of 1972-73 rose to second place.

This is the 35^th season of Spruce Kings hockey, a season when the Kings will host the Royal Bank Cup- Canadian Junior A Hockey Championship.

There is no better time than tonight to say thanks to a team who just wanted to play the game they loved.

The on-ice ceremony will precede the Spruce Kings BCHL contest against the defending RBC champion Burnaby Express.