Spruce Kings Secure Prospects

By Kelly Sharp

       Spruce Kings in gold medal game at  CN Centre

Prince George Spruce Kings wasted little time in securing prospects for next BC Hockey League season. The Kings head coach and general manager Ed Dempsey has received commitments from six players who skated for junior B teams in the 2006-07 hockey season. Seventeen year-old defenseman Corey Braddick, who was listed on the Kings RBC Cup roster, but did not play in a game, joins the Kings from the Ridge Meadow Flames of the Pacific International Junior Hockey League. The 6-1 185 pound rearguard amassed 121 penalty minutes in 42 games. Up front from the PIJHL, 5-10 190 pound left winger Joel Venema committed to the Kings. The 18 year-old had 63 points, including 24 goals in 48 games for the Hope Ice Breakers. 5-10 165 pound centre Kevin Hanna, who turns 19 at the end of August, collected 44 points in 45 games and was assessed 198 penalty minutes for the Abbotsford Pilots.

Dempsey signed a pair of players from the Oceanside Generals of the Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League. 6-3 220 pound defenseman Peter Funnell is 18 years of age. He had 206 PIMS in 48 games for the junior B Generals. Nineteen year-old forward Matt Potter is 5-10, 160 pounds. He earned 35 points, including 17 goals, in 38 games in the VIJHL.

The Spruce Kings also added 6-3 200 pound winger Anthony Collins from the Kamloops Storm of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League. Collins, who will turn 18 in September, had 28 goals and 26 assists in 48 games including 141 penalty minutes.

The silver medalists at this month’s RBC Royal Bank Cup lose 2 defencemen and 6 forwards to graduation.

Email | Print | Facebook | Twitter | Digg | Del.icio.us