This past week saw three Spruce Kings alumni commit to taking their on-ice talents to the next level to play collegiate hockey. Two of the three players finished out the season with the Spruce Kings and one was traded early on in the season.
First of all congratulations to both Zac Rasmussen and Brad Bourke who secured their play with CIS schools. Rasmussen will be playing in his hometown of Kamloops with the TRU WolfPack for the start of the 2010-11 season at the Thompson River University. Across the Rockies, Bourke will be suiting up for the University of Alberta Augustana Vikings.
Both of these players joined the Spruce Kings early in the season with Bourke coming in exchange for Andrew Pickering via the Merritt Centennials. In the short time that he spent wearing the crown for the Spruce Kings, it was obvious to see that Pickering had a ton of ability and talent and that made him a sought after commodity. After a tough decision was made to add some experience on the back end, a trade was made with the Merritt Centennials that brought Brad Bourke to the Spruce Kings.
After the trade, Pickering continued to work hard in his new environment and continued to stay in touch with those that he felt were influential to his game. In his opinion, it all led to his recent NCAA Div I scholarship to the University of Alaska Anchorage to play for the Seawolves with another Spruce Kings alumni, Wes McLeod. I had an opportunity to talk to Andrew and congratulate him on his scholarship and also about his junior career with the Spruce Kings and the BCHL.
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