FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
PRINCE GEORGE, BC - The Prince George Spruce Kings are excited to announce the signing of four players for the 2010-11 season. The first of a number of signings during the off-season were made after the team received commitments from Riley Spraggs (F), Faiz Khan (F), Trevor Esau (D) and Chris Bodo (F).
Spraggs, Khan and Esau were all members of the Revelstoke Grizzlies of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL) winning the 2009-10 league championship, the Cyclone Taylor Cup and the Keystone Cup. Bodo comes via the Strathroy Rockets of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL) where he finished the season third in league scoring with 97 points.
Riley Spraggs, who played five games with the Spruce Kings last season, is a '91 forward 5' 9" 175 lbs from Vernon, BC. In 47 regular season games, Spraggs had a record of 25 goals, 23 assists and 41 PIMs.
Faiz Khan, from Santa Clarita, California is a '90 forward 5' 9" 160 lbs. As a rookie last season, Khan led the Grizzlies in scoring with 27 goals and 41 assists in 42 games played.
Trevor Esau comes in as an 18 year old defenceman born in 1992, 6' 4" 205 lbs from Abbotsford, BC. Esau finished last season with a record of 1 goal, 6 assists and 95 PIMs in 48 games.
Chris Bodo is a 5' 9" 185 lbs '91 born forward from St. Thomas, Ontario. Playing on the right side, Bodo was the 2009-10 Strathroy Rockets regular season and playoffs scoring champion recording 49 goals and 48 assists in 50 regular season games. Bodo comes with a NCAA Division I scholarship to Mercyhurst College for the 2011-12 season.
"We are extremely happy as an organization that we were able to secure commitments from these four players," said Spruce Kings assistant general manager and director of player personnel, Mike Hawes. "Spraggs, Khan and Bodo are extremely gifted forwards with great numbers to show from last season and Esau is a key addition to our defence next year and for years down the road."
For more information, please contact the Prince George Spruce Kings at 250.564.1747.
Showing posts with label scholarship. Show all posts
Showing posts with label scholarship. Show all posts
Thursday, June 3, 2010
Sunday, May 16, 2010
Alumni Offers Thanks for Scholarship
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.
download audio file
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.
download audio file
Thursday, September 3, 2009
Alumni Assumes Academic Advisor Role
This post was written and submitted by Rob Pritchard, Spruce Kings Alumni from 2004-2005.
As the Spruce Kings are gearing up for the 2009/10 season I am glad to say that I am once again back with the team. Although it has been 5 years since I played my last game in the Coliseum, I will be helping the players out as an academic adviser, working to help players with the Spruce Kings land college scholarships.
After leaving the BCHL in 2005, I went on to play four years at Dartmouth College in the Ivy League and NCAA before hanging up the skates to work in Washington, DC. Despite the time difference, I will be staying in touch with the players as they start talking to schools and taking steps to further both their hockey and academic careers.
My decision to come back and volunteer with the Spruce Kings came after I left the game to begin working full time. Although my playing days are now behind me I began to realize that almost every aspect of my life has benefitted from hockey and I would like to pay the favour forwards.
The Spruce Kings are a team that needs no help in furthering players' careers. Since I received my scholarship and graduated from the team, Prince George has moved dozens of players on to the NCAA, the CIS, and various professional leagues in addition to hosting a Royal Bank Cup. For my part, I would just like to see if I can put some of my personal experience to use in order to help the players reach their full potential.
Here's to a successful 09/10 season.
As the Spruce Kings are gearing up for the 2009/10 season I am glad to say that I am once again back with the team. Although it has been 5 years since I played my last game in the Coliseum, I will be helping the players out as an academic adviser, working to help players with the Spruce Kings land college scholarships.
After leaving the BCHL in 2005, I went on to play four years at Dartmouth College in the Ivy League and NCAA before hanging up the skates to work in Washington, DC. Despite the time difference, I will be staying in touch with the players as they start talking to schools and taking steps to further both their hockey and academic careers.
My decision to come back and volunteer with the Spruce Kings came after I left the game to begin working full time. Although my playing days are now behind me I began to realize that almost every aspect of my life has benefitted from hockey and I would like to pay the favour forwards.
The Spruce Kings are a team that needs no help in furthering players' careers. Since I received my scholarship and graduated from the team, Prince George has moved dozens of players on to the NCAA, the CIS, and various professional leagues in addition to hosting a Royal Bank Cup. For my part, I would just like to see if I can put some of my personal experience to use in order to help the players reach their full potential.
Here's to a successful 09/10 season.
Sunday, August 9, 2009
Up'Hill' Battle Rewarded
Congratulations to Ryan Hill for securing a scholarship to play at Portage College in Lac La Biche, Alberta. Following a full season away from any type of real competitive hockey, the former Spruce King is going to be lacing them up again. Ryan will be taking his first year courses this fall at Portage College before transferring to the University of Alberta to study in the area of sports physiotherapy.
"Ever since I have been fifteen or sixteen I've wanted to (be a physiotherapist)," admits Ryan Hill. "It's never left my passion and so that's what I'm going for."
The opportunity to continue on with hockey comes at a perfect time for Ryan who admitedly couldn't get the game out of his system even with a year off. The son of Kerry Hill, a member of the first year Spruce Kings, credits his father for keeping the passion burning and helping him through some of the hurdles that he encountered along the way.
"He was always the first one I would be on the phone with," Ryan says of his dad. "He would say 'keep your head held high and it's going to get better and better' and now it has, which is really nice."
After joining the Spruce Kings in the late stages of the 2004-05 season and playing in only four regular season games and four more playoff games, Ryan earned a roster spot for the next two seasons. After starting his twenty year old season in Prince George, Ryan made a move that took him three time zones away from his hometown of Fort St. James to play with the Port Hope Predators of the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League (OPJHL). After the Christmas break, Hill realized how much he missed home and made the decision to come back; the Fernie Ghostriders learned of this decision and wasted little time in securing the rights to this gritty performer.
On January 18, 2008 Ryan Hill made his debut with his new team and made an immediate impact earning third star honours as the Ghostriders defeated the Kimberley Dynamiters 3-2 on home ice. In the ten games that Hill played in, the Ghostriders had an impressive record of 8 wins and 2 losses. The Ghostriders finished first in the East Division of the Neil Murdoch Conference of the KJHL and saw their success continue through the playoffs resulting in a league championship.
"It was a weird way to end (my junior career)," Ryan claims with a chuckle. "I mean I moved down to Junior 'B' and we end up winning the championship."
It was during this portion of his junior career that Portage College finally started contacting Ryan and tried to get him into their program for last season. But the best thing he could do for himself was take a well deserved break from the daily rigours of hockey. The break seems to have done him wonders as he has found the passion for the game and has recharged himself.
Ryan has been working out hard with other players and the trainers at X-Conditioning and has also been skating with a core group of players getting ready for the upcoming season. He will also be helping out with the Spruce Kings hockey school as well as participating in the Junior Conditioning Camp put on by the Spruce Kings next week.
"Ever since I have been fifteen or sixteen I've wanted to (be a physiotherapist)," admits Ryan Hill. "It's never left my passion and so that's what I'm going for."
The opportunity to continue on with hockey comes at a perfect time for Ryan who admitedly couldn't get the game out of his system even with a year off. The son of Kerry Hill, a member of the first year Spruce Kings, credits his father for keeping the passion burning and helping him through some of the hurdles that he encountered along the way.
"He was always the first one I would be on the phone with," Ryan says of his dad. "He would say 'keep your head held high and it's going to get better and better' and now it has, which is really nice."
After joining the Spruce Kings in the late stages of the 2004-05 season and playing in only four regular season games and four more playoff games, Ryan earned a roster spot for the next two seasons. After starting his twenty year old season in Prince George, Ryan made a move that took him three time zones away from his hometown of Fort St. James to play with the Port Hope Predators of the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League (OPJHL). After the Christmas break, Hill realized how much he missed home and made the decision to come back; the Fernie Ghostriders learned of this decision and wasted little time in securing the rights to this gritty performer.
On January 18, 2008 Ryan Hill made his debut with his new team and made an immediate impact earning third star honours as the Ghostriders defeated the Kimberley Dynamiters 3-2 on home ice. In the ten games that Hill played in, the Ghostriders had an impressive record of 8 wins and 2 losses. The Ghostriders finished first in the East Division of the Neil Murdoch Conference of the KJHL and saw their success continue through the playoffs resulting in a league championship.
"It was a weird way to end (my junior career)," Ryan claims with a chuckle. "I mean I moved down to Junior 'B' and we end up winning the championship."
It was during this portion of his junior career that Portage College finally started contacting Ryan and tried to get him into their program for last season. But the best thing he could do for himself was take a well deserved break from the daily rigours of hockey. The break seems to have done him wonders as he has found the passion for the game and has recharged himself.
Ryan has been working out hard with other players and the trainers at X-Conditioning and has also been skating with a core group of players getting ready for the upcoming season. He will also be helping out with the Spruce Kings hockey school as well as participating in the Junior Conditioning Camp put on by the Spruce Kings next week.
Saturday, June 27, 2009
President's Report - 2008/09
by Darcy Buryn, President, Prince George Spruce Kings Junior A Hockey Club.
On ice, our team finished fifth in the regular season in a very competitive Interior Conference and then went on to an exciting five game first round series loss to the Penticton Vees.
Coming out of the 2007/08 season, I set out the following two overriding principles that we as a board use to guide us in the decisions that we make and the issues that we face:
We are making progress in this regard, but look forward to the opportunity to continue.
As evidence of the progress we are making in the development of our program, six players on our roster this season received scholarship commitments to NCAA schools to date. I had the opportunity to watch two NCAA games in Denver this past season and the players graduating from our program to that level are in for a exciting phase of their hockey careers.
Also former Spruce Kings goaltender, Brad Thiessen signed a professional contract this season at the conclusion of his third NCAA season and then had the opportunity to travel with the Pittsburgh Penguins on their road to the Stanley Cup, culminating in joining the team for their on-ice celebration and being handed the Cup by Sidney Crosby.
Wes McLeod committed to the University of Alaska-Anchorage, attracted the attention of the NHL's central scouting bureau and we are hoping to hear his name called in this weekend's NHL Entry Draft in Montreal.
We have recently committed to Ed Dempsey and Mike Hawes for the next two seasons to continue their efforts to push our hockey program forward.
We held our second consecutive evaluation camp in April, with players attending from throughout the Province of BC as well as Alberta and Ontario. There were also a number of players that came from California, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Washington, Alaska and Arizona. Several players from that camp have received invitations to the 2009 main camp in August. Four players from the Spring camp have also accepted cards to join our roster for the 2009/10 season.
The 2009 Show Home lottery brought us the second consecutive sell-out of available tickets. Despite the revenue generated from the sell-out, we continue to be challenged by the rising construction and land development costs. Also, the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation has informed us that they are going to run a house lottery of their own. They tried to get it together for the Spring of 2009, but were not successful and will try again in Spring 2010.
The dates of the 2010 Spruce Kings Show Home Lottery period will commence again in October with the draw to be held again on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2010. We have also decided to increase the tickets to be sold in the coming Lottery to 7,499.
I would like to commend the efforts of Jim Young and his sales staff, including my dad Wally, who is celebrating his 70th birthday tonight, in leading us to a sell-out of tickets.
As the governor of the team, I have attended several league meetings and conference calls. I have given up my role as the Chair of the Education Committee for the League to focus on the League financial and budgeting process, working closely with David Sales, executive director of the BCHL.
Darcy Buryn.
On ice, our team finished fifth in the regular season in a very competitive Interior Conference and then went on to an exciting five game first round series loss to the Penticton Vees.
Coming out of the 2007/08 season, I set out the following two overriding principles that we as a board use to guide us in the decisions that we make and the issues that we face:
Make the Prince George Spruce Kings a team of choice for players who want to play in the British Columbia Hockey League.
Develop an organizational culture whereby those players expect of themselves, and feel a responsibility on behalf of the entire organization, to play every shift of every game until there are no games left on the schedule.
We are making progress in this regard, but look forward to the opportunity to continue.
As evidence of the progress we are making in the development of our program, six players on our roster this season received scholarship commitments to NCAA schools to date. I had the opportunity to watch two NCAA games in Denver this past season and the players graduating from our program to that level are in for a exciting phase of their hockey careers.
Also former Spruce Kings goaltender, Brad Thiessen signed a professional contract this season at the conclusion of his third NCAA season and then had the opportunity to travel with the Pittsburgh Penguins on their road to the Stanley Cup, culminating in joining the team for their on-ice celebration and being handed the Cup by Sidney Crosby.
Wes McLeod committed to the University of Alaska-Anchorage, attracted the attention of the NHL's central scouting bureau and we are hoping to hear his name called in this weekend's NHL Entry Draft in Montreal.
We have recently committed to Ed Dempsey and Mike Hawes for the next two seasons to continue their efforts to push our hockey program forward.
We held our second consecutive evaluation camp in April, with players attending from throughout the Province of BC as well as Alberta and Ontario. There were also a number of players that came from California, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Washington, Alaska and Arizona. Several players from that camp have received invitations to the 2009 main camp in August. Four players from the Spring camp have also accepted cards to join our roster for the 2009/10 season.
The 2009 Show Home lottery brought us the second consecutive sell-out of available tickets. Despite the revenue generated from the sell-out, we continue to be challenged by the rising construction and land development costs. Also, the Spirit of the North Healthcare Foundation has informed us that they are going to run a house lottery of their own. They tried to get it together for the Spring of 2009, but were not successful and will try again in Spring 2010.
The dates of the 2010 Spruce Kings Show Home Lottery period will commence again in October with the draw to be held again on Valentine’s Day, February 14, 2010. We have also decided to increase the tickets to be sold in the coming Lottery to 7,499.
I would like to commend the efforts of Jim Young and his sales staff, including my dad Wally, who is celebrating his 70th birthday tonight, in leading us to a sell-out of tickets.
As the governor of the team, I have attended several league meetings and conference calls. I have given up my role as the Chair of the Education Committee for the League to focus on the League financial and budgeting process, working closely with David Sales, executive director of the BCHL.
Darcy Buryn.
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