Conversation with NHL Central Scouting

During Saturday's Spruce Kings game I was fortunate enough to talk with and interview Scott McWilliam of NHL Central Scouting. The BCHL Showcase was billed as a hotbed for scouts from NCAA schools as well as the NHL and it certainly has shown to be that. Conservative estimates put the number of scouts in attendance at close to 200 and one of those in the building for the Spruce Kings vs Centennials game was Scott McWilliam.

Before working primarily with the NHL Central Scouting Services, McWilliam has an extensive hockey resume that includes being one of the driving forces behind the Abbotsford Head AHL franchise and has been working at promoting the game, teams and players for many years prior to that. Scott took the time out of a busy weekend schedule that included sizing up all the players in the BCHL both with weights and heights and also skills and abilities on the ice to talk to me.

The evolution of the game of hockey has made something like the BCHL Showcase and important component of the game. Scouts want to take a look at players earlier and more often than ever before and it is the job of Scott McWilliam and NHL Central Scouting to start referencing all of those players. Although his work is not designed to address the needs of individual NHL teams, the work of NHL Central Scouting is valuable at assessing players for the annual NHL Entry Draft.

This past Draft, the Spruce Kings were very proud to hear Jujhar Khaira's name called out by the Edmonton Oilers and I had a chance to talk to Scott about Jujhar and the process that all players can expect to go through. I also was able to get Scott to drop a couple of names from this year's roster, you'll hear who those players are and learn a little bit more in this interview. I started out by asking Scott about the importance of the BCHL Showcase event itself.

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Game Day - Langley Rivermen

Spruce Kings defeat the Merritt Centennials 4-1
in a game that featured some physical play from both teams

The Prince George Spruce Kings have started the season on a winning note with a 4-1 victory over the Merritt Centennials in the first game of the season. Playing in the Prospera Centre in Chilliwack at the BCHL Showcase, the Spruce Kings lined up against the team that ended their season on March 20th. As Dave Dupas said in the pregame interview, that particular piece of history would fall on deaf ears with the new players on the squad so motivation would have to come from a different source.

Many of the players that played prominent roles for the Spruce Kings weren't even in the lineup at the end of the season. Coltyn Hansen, Cameron Lawson and Lyndon Martell led the way with three of the four goals while Tyson Witala had the other. Other play makers that made a difference in the game included Mitch Eden along with Trevor Esau and Skylar Pacheco.

The Spruce Kings created many scoring chances throughout the game but didn't really cash in until the third period with three goals unanswered goals. One scoring chance early in the first period belonged to Lyndon Martell who was setup by a good penalty kill forecheck from Cameron Lawson who sprung the pair on a two on one. After getting the puck from Lawson, Martell was able to come straight in on Tyler Steel pulling the puck from his backhand to his forehand. Steel was able to get a piece of the puck with his skate sending the puck just past the post.

A few minutes later it was Skylar Pacheco that was able to get the Spruce Kings moving in the right direction. Under a little pressure from the Centennials forwards, Pacheco used the back of the net to get away and find some open ice in the corner before using the wall to get the puck up to Cameron Lawson. From there Lawson found Coltyn Hansen through the middle and Hansen used his speed to get around a defenceman before cutting to the net. Hansen cruised through the top of the crease and just waited for Steel to commit before depositing his first of the season into the back of the net at 7:12 of the first period.

That's how the first period would end even though the Spruce Kings trailed 8-6 in the shots on goal stat. In the second period the Spruce Kings again created chances but were unable to capitalize on any of them. On an icing call in the middle of the second period both teams got a chance to regroup during the BCHL time out but it would be the Merritt Centennials that would eventually benefit from the break.

After winning the ensuing faceoff, the Centennials found themselves with a scoring chance. The puck was fired wide off the back boards where it was picked up by Brandon Bruce who just shoveled it towards the front of the net where it found Kirk Thompson's pads and ended up in front of the goal line against the goal post. Trevor Esau rode Bruce out of the play with a heavy check against the boards that drew the attention of Dylan Chanter who immediately dropped the gloves and went after Esau.

In the same stoppage of play, Karan Toor and Payton Schaefer also got into it with Toor getting the early edge in the fight before being tackled to the ice by Schaefer. Meanwhile Esau and Chanter had a pretty spirited battle of their own. When the dust settled, Esau was given two minutes for cross checking, two minutes for roughing and five minutes for fighting. Chanter was charged with an instigator to go along with his five minute major and Toor and Schaefer were both given five minutes for fighting and game misconducts.

The net result put the Centennials on the powerplay and would make short order of the Spruce Kings with the man advantage. Less than a minute after the scuffle, Sean Maktaak was able to find a loose puck and force it home past a down and out Kirk Thompson who thought he had it covered. The goal put the teams back to even tied at a goal a-piece and that's how the second would end.

The Spruce Kings found a new gear in the third period and were buzzing early again creating scoring chances. Even while inside their own zone, a good work ethic shone through and at 7:07 of the third period the Spruce Kings would take the lead for good as a result of the no quit attitude on the ice. From inside his own zone, Mitch Eden fought to get the puck out of the defensive zone including a last ditch dive and poke at the puck that setup Coltyn Hansen and the rest of the top line.

Hansen carried the puck through the middle and was able to get a shot on goal that left Tyler Steel looking for the bouncer. Both Lyndon Martell and Cameron Lawson got a crack it before Lawson got the last touch and was able to lob it up and over Steel to make it a 2-1 game.

Lyndon Martell for one wasn't done there and would get himself on the board a couple of shifts later and seemingly harmless looking play. After a D-to-D pass inside their own zone, Mitch Eden and Skylar Pacheco were able to get the puck to Martell cruising through the middle. At the tail end of their shift, Martell step over the blue line and instead of dumping it in decided to take a shot on goal that fooled Steel as it sailed in over his glove. The insurance goal was scored at the 14:37 mark of the third period putting the Centennials into desperation mode.

A line that has been working hard at developing some chemistry came together for the Spruce Kings fourth goal at 18:06 after Tyson Witala finished another one of those no quit type plays. Again it was just good solid work at trying to get the puck down low that resulted in the goal by both Bryant Christian, Liam Board and Tyson Witala all had a touch on the puck in the left corner before Witala was able to come out front and bury his first of the season.

The Spruce Kings did a great job in capitalizing on chances especially in the third period and if they can continue on the path they have set for themselves, could become a team that others will be forced to bring their 'A' game to play against. One area that the coaching staff will want to take a closer look at is the powerplay that came up empty on five chances. Although the penalty kill did allow one goal against, that special team did an effective job on the night.

The attention will now shift to the team that currently sits in top spot in the Mainland Division by way of their four goal victory over the Alberni Valley Bulldogs on Friday night. The Langley Rivermen are a much different team than they were last season when they finished with a disappointing 19-35-1-5 record last season.

The Rivermen did keep nine of their players from last season and also acquired Jakob Reichert from the Merritt Centennials in a two for one deal. For Langley, their strength looks like it will come by committee with a couple of rookies leading the way out of the gate. Ben Butcher (2 goals) and Matt Ustaski (2 assists) combined on two of Rivermen's seven goals. Scott Moyer was the only other multiple point player with a goal and an assist.

The Langley Rivermen have the longest break between games at the BCHL Showcase after opening the tournament format on Friday afternoon and will now play in the last game of the weekend. Game time is 6pm from the main rink in Prospera Centre Chilliwack. Something will give in this game and depending on two earlier games, the winner of this one could come out of the weekend with sole possession of first place in the Mainland Division.

All five teams have two points only difference is that the Chilliwack Chiefs have played both of their games. The Coquitlam Express will face the Cowichan Valley Captials at 2pm and the Surrey Eagles will play the West Kelowna Warriors at 5:30pm. The Express picked up their two points in a 1-0 overtime win over the Victoria Grizzlies and the Surrey Eagles needed overtime as well to claim their two points in a 3-2 decision over the Powell River Kings.

The Spruce Kings and Langley Rivermen game will be available on 93.1 CFIS-FM which can also be found online as an audio feed from the radio station's website or as a Pay-Per-View full broadcast on Fasthockey.com.

Game Day - Merritt Centennials

The Spruce Kings will start the season without a number
of guys from last year, but that shouldn't stop them!

The Prince George Spruce Kings are in Chilliwack along with the rest of the BCHL for the inaugural BCHL Showcase featuring all 16 teams playing a pair of games over the three day weekend. The Spruce Kings first game will be at noon on Saturday September 8th against the Merritt Centennials. Yes the very same team that eliminated the Spruce Kings in their return to the post season just six months ago.

Although the team names are the same as they were when the Spruce Kings season ended on March 20th, many of the players are very new to this matchup with very few even familiar with the team they will be lining up against. The Merritt Centennials are bringing back ten players that played against the Spruce Kings at the end of last season while Prince George only has six returners.

The Merritt Centennials do have two additional players that know the Spruce Kings including one that knows it from the inside of dressing room out. After playing his rookie year as a 16 year old with the Spruce Kings, Stephen Ryan finds himself one day before his birthday playing against his former team. In 56 games with Prince George, Ryan helped set up nine goals. As a 17 year old he dressed for seven games and will be hoping for a lot more this season as an eighteen year old starting with game one against his former team.

Another player that the Centennials have added to their roster over the off season is Smithers hockey product and younger sibling to Spruce Kings alunmi Darcy Huisman. Derek Huisman started his BCHL career with the Quesnel Millionaires and moved last season with them to Chilliwack, In the offseason, the now twenty year old was part of trade that saw the Centennials trade the playing rights of Austin Plevy and Keith Hamilton to the Chilliwack Chiefs.

It could be said that Derek has played some of his best games against the Prince George Spruce Kings but he has had two good season in the BCHL doubling his offensive numbers last season while with the Chiefs. This season as a twenty year old, Huisman is expected to be an offensive leader and a leader in the dressing room for the Merritt Centennials.

With a healthy number of returning players (11), the Centennials should be a serious contender in the Interior Division. Those returnees include notables like ironman Silvan Harper who has missed only one game in the previous three seasons, nineteen year old Regan Soquila who led the Centennials last season with 70 points (16G, 54A) and Sean Maktaak with his physical style of play. Also in that mix is the netminder Tyler Steel who finished last season in the top three among the league's best goaltenders for both goals against average (2.60) and save percentage (91.60%).

The Prince George Spruce Kings have six returners and a seventh with an asterisk in Lyndon Martell who will be starting his third season with the team. Martell first joined the Spruce Kings in October of 2009. At the time Martell was lighting up the BC Major Midget League playing with the Cariboo Cougars and then moved over to the Spruce Kings putting up equally impressive numbers of 13 goals and 18 assists in 44 games.

The following season, Martell answered the call of the Kamloops Blazers and started the season with that WHL franchise. Early into the season, Kamloops made the decision to give him back to his Junior A team and then traded him to Regina in December where Martell finished out the season and played the next year as well. During the offseason Lyndon made the decision to play for his hometown Spruce Kings and will now play in his 62nd game Saturday afternoon.

Other returners for the Prince George Spruce Kings include the newly named team captain, Trevor Esau who is starting his third consecutive season wearing the Crown. Considered a stay at home defenceman who can punish opposing forwards with his 6' 4" 220 pound frame, Esau is expected to log big minutes on the blue line in his twentieth year with the Spruce Kings.

Another twenty year old starting his third season in Prince George is netminder Kirk Thompson. Picking up a 4-0 shutout win in his first preseason game, Thompson wants to improve on his numbers from last season and set himself apart from others that have wore the crown before him. Thompson already appears in four of the five stats in the team record book and is looking to climb up to the number one position in at least a couple of those.

Skylar Pacheco was last seasons Rookie of the Year and will be expected to be a key part of the team's defence this season. Latrell Charleson rounds out the defensive core of returning players although there was some concern that he would be playing this season in the WHL with the Moose Jaw Warriors. Perhaps the uncertainty surrounding the NHL can be considered good fortune for the Spruce Kings as the Warriors found themselves with an excess of defenceman.

Up front there are only two returning players that finished out the previous season with the Prince George Spruce Kings. Both are local products and both play with that tried and true characteristic that Prince George hockey fans call a lunch bucket work ethic. To go along with the hard nosed edge that Tyson Witala and Sean Landrey can bring to every shift is an ability to turn a seemingly innocent play into a scoring chance and points on the scoreboard.

Although the Spruce Kings may lack the actual number of returning players, they certainly don't lack Junior A experience with the likes of Cam Lawson and Coltyn Hansen who were both acquired from Victoria along with David London in the off season. It should be noted here that London is not with the team after being placed on the Injured Reserve List as a result of a broken collar bone that will keep him out of the lineup for up to twelve weeks.

Other players with Junior A experience, although not gained from the BCHL, are Brad Ryan and Liam Board who were acquired in the offseason from the Oakville Blades. Mitch Eden is another Ontario boy and one that is looking to turn the heads of scouts this weekend being NHL Draft eligible in the summer of 2013.

Perhaps this year's Spruce Kings squad will be better known for its rookie crop. Jeremiah Luedtke, Chad Staley and Alec Butcher who all played in the NAHL last season ... Luedtke and Staley with the Wenatchee Wild and Butcher with the Peaks Miners. Luedtke is an early season standout for the Spruce Kings and looks like a player that may be able to keep pace with the League leaders.

Another rookie to take note of is Karan Toor on the back end who came to camp looking like he went to the same gym as Jujhar Khaira packing on the muscle and becoming a bigger stronger played than anyone may have thought. Another player that has quietly made an impact with the Spruce Kings early on is Quesnel resident Ryan Keis.

A player looking to make a name for himself is the younger brother to Spruce Kings Rookie of the Year and BCHL's Interior Division Rookie of the Year award winner, Jordie Christian. Bryant Christian is following in his brother's footsteps only until he steps on the ice and from there he is looking to carve his own path through to the NCAA.

This year a total of five players come directly from Prince George and two of them come out of the BCMML Cariboo Cougars from last season in Tanner Fjellstrom and Jake LeBrun. For Fjellstrom he will have to wait at least another week before he might be able to be cleared to play after suffering a bit of a high angle sprain in the Saturday's preseason game in the Coliseum.

One Prince George player who wasn't expected to be on the final roster but whose play said otherwise is Jake LeBrun. At 17 years of age it can be said that he outplayed some of the signed guys on the team but for sure played well enough to pick up the final roster spot for the Spruce Kings.

The last player on the Spruce Kings roster is one that wants to be the "last line of defence." Liam McLeod comes into the BCHL as a sixteen year old rookie goaltender but has already shown a level of maturity ahead of his years. Picking up a win in his first preseason game in the BCHL, McLeod has been diligent about his approach to the game and has shown a deep desire to learn and more importantly be ready at a moment's notice to get in the game.

After going through the process of three Intra-Squad game, four preseason games and all the practices etc., it comes down to game number one in a 56 game regular season. That game is a noon start on Saturday September 8th against the Merritt Centennials. The game itself will be viewer from Fasthockey.com ... there will also be a Listen Live link on the Spruce Kings website as well as here on the Spruce Kings blog (upper right) to get you on the CFIS-FM free public streaming.

On The Eve

The Prince George Spruce Kings are about to start their 17th season in the British Columbia Hockey League. It will be the first time since joining the League that the team will play outside of the Interior Conference. Along with that change is an interesting schedule to start the season with all teams converging on Chilliwack to play a pair of games in the BCHL Showcase.

I had an opportunity to sit down with the Spruce Kings General Manager and talk to Mike Hawes about the Showcase, playing out of the Mainland Division in the Coastal Conference and take a closer look at the team and their expectations. From what I was able to see through the Intra-Squad games and the Preseason schedule, there is reason for excitement among the Spruce Kings faithful for a team with a lot of heart and work ethic.

On the eve of the 2012-13 season, I started by asking Mike Hawes specifically about the BCHL Showcase knowing that it has already become a destination for scouts from all over the hockey world and has generated a lot of excitement with fans around the league.

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Spruce Kings Finish Preseason

Kirk Thompson making a stop on the game's first star

Braden Crone scored twice as the Grande Prairie Storm completed a sweep of a home-and-home pre-season series against the Prince George Spruce Kings with a 5-2 win Saturday night at the Coliseum.

The loss evens the Spruce Kings' pre-season record at 2-2 as they now turn their attention to the opening of the regular season next weekend in Chilliwack.

Kody Disher and Liam Board had the goals for the Spruce Kings while Kirk Thompson took the loss in net.

In addition to the pair from Crone, Grande Prairie also got tallies from Jordan McTaggert, Ryan Matthews and Marc Drapeau. David Readman and Curtis Skip split the goaltending duties for the Storm.

The visitors got on the board first as McTaggert converted a turnover at the Spruce Kings' blue-line and wired a shot past Thompson just under five minutes into the game. Grande Prairie had the territorial edge early and looked poised to open an even bigger lead, similar to the 3-0 advantage they had in the first period in Friday night's contest. The Storm won that game 4-2.

The Spruce Kings found their legs in the middle part of the period and got back on even terms as Disher poked home a lose puck at the side of the net. Disher didn't have much of an angle to work with but he found a way to get the puck pass Readman.

The score was tied 1-1 after one period but the Storm took over in the decisive middle stanza, scoring three times. Matthews got things started with a power-play tally early in the period after Drapeau and Crone scored just over two minutes apart in the middle part of the frame, the Spruce Kings found themselves in a deep whole. Although Prince George generated some chances in the second half of the second, they weren't able to close the gap.

It could have been even worse as Thompson came up big to stop Crone on the breakaway, but the Storm still took a 4-1 lead into the second intermission. Board got Prince George back within two with a power-play goal with just over five minutes to go in the third, but that was as close as the Spruce Kings could get. Crone iced it for Grande Prairie with his second of the night with just over a minute to go in the game.

Among the bright spots for the Spruce Kings was the play of defenceman Mitch Eden, who was solid in his own zone and not afraid to join the rush.

The line of Chad Staley, Jeremiah Luedtke and Jake LeBrun had the most sustained offensive pressure for Prince George, but weren't able to connect at even strength. Both Tanner Fjellstrom and David London left the game with injuries.

The Spruce Kings open the regular season in Chilliwack next Saturday afternoon against Merritt as part of the BCHL showcase.

This article was submitted by Peter James

Going "Hards" For Preseason

Kirk Hards draws into the preseason roster tonight

The transition from the summer offseason to the start of the regular season isn't always a smooth one and that is why there is a training camp and a few preseason games thrown in the mix. Sometimes the bodies aren't completely ready for the transition and minor little aches and bruises are a common occurrence.

So as not to make anything more serious than it is, players are encouraged to take a few days off to let the body heal itself in time for the regular season. This often gives coaches an opportunity to tinker with lines and take longer looks at other players as well. Occasionally it means bringing back a player for another opportunity to get some game time experience at the Junior A level.

Such is the case tonight for Prince George minor hockey product, Kirk Hards. A hold over from the training camp, Hards played in the Spruce Kings first preseason game on Tuesday night. The game turned into a 2-1 win for the Spruce Kings and Hards had the chance to show off his tenacious and fearless side. Listed during training camp at 5' 6" 137 lbs, you would never know it watching him go hard to the net and cause problems for the opposition defense and goaltender.

Perhaps fittingly, Hards will don the jersey worn by another Prince George minor hockey product that was considered to be slight for the game but played much bigger than his measurements on paper indicated. That player put up some big numbers that still reside in the Spruce Kings record book, he wore the 'C' above the crown and earned a NCAA Division I scholarship. Hards will wear Sam Muchalla's number 26 tonight for the Spruce Kings final preseason test and the second half of the home-and-home series versus the Grande Prairie Storm of the Alberta Junior Hockey League.

Hards is currently at the BCMML Cariboo Cougars training camp, but has been granted permission to play up with the Spruce Kings for tonight. Perhaps that will be the spark plug the team needs to rebound from a disappointing loss to the Storm last night in Grande Prairie. Tonight's game is a 7pm start in the Prince George Coliseum with admission just $5.00. The game will also be broadcast through FastHockey.com for those that can't be at the game in person.

Inter-League Preseason Loss

Jake LeBrun (on the ice behind the Storm goalie) was causing
all kinds of grieve for Grande Prairie on Friday night

It didn't go according to plan for the Prince George Spruce Kings on Friday night when they made the hop over to the Alberta Junior Hockey League, suffering a 4-2 loss to the Grande Prairie Storm in the first half of a home-and-home series. The Spruce Kings started out strong getting a number of shots and at least twice as many scoring chances than their opponents, but a three minute lapse in the first period was just too much to overcome on this night.

With Liam McLeod getting his second preseason start after collecting the win on a 2-1 score Tuesday night, the Spruce Kings may have been guilty of leaving too much for the youngster to take care of himself. With an early flurry, the Spruce Kings looked to have picked up where they left off on Wednesday night when they skated away with a 4-0 win.

The Spruce Kings got early scoring chances and even had Liam McLeod make an early spectacular save that kept the game scoreless. Unfortunately that wouldn't last as the Storm opened the scoring at 8:31 on a nice shot by Marc Drapeau that finished off a two on one play setup by Jeremy Barriault and Dylan Thudium.

The Spruce Kings then took a penalty shortly after putting their perfect penalty kill record to the test. That perfection would only last a minute when Jeremy Barriault stepped into a shot from the high slot and found a deflection on the way to the net to make it a 2-0 game in favour of the Alberta hosts. One play after the goal was scored, the team's were given their one minute League timeout which the Spruce Kings used to try and settle everybody down.

The plan didn't work when again Marc Drapeau was sent in on a pass from Gus Correale to make it a 3-0 game at the 12:06 mark of the opening period. The Spruce Kings would try to rally after this goal and had a few chances offensively and defensively they were able to come back and allow McLeod to get a feel for the puck again.

Mitch Eden then started to carry the play for the visitors and was seen heading up the ice leading a rush a couple of times trying to get something going for the Spruce Kings on the score board. On one particular rush, Eden carried the puck from his own zone along the left boards and after gaining the Storm zone, cut hard to the net. He was able to execute the toe drag taking the defenceman out of the play. The ensuing back hand attempt was stopped but not corralled by the Storm goaltender allowing Liam Board to lift his first of the preseason into the back of the net.

The first period would end with the Spruce Kings trailing 3-1 on the score board but leading on the shot clock by a 9-8 margin. In the second period Drapeau was able to complete his hat trick at 4:58 again setup by Prince George hockey product, Gus Correale. Five minutes later it was Sean Landrey's turn to make things happen with a play that he started with a bit of a cross check to knock his man off the puck.

Landrey was seen looking back at the referee who let the play continue so Landrey took the puck up to the right point and then across the middle before being hooked down and finally the referee's arm came up signally a Storm penalty. Still with possession of the puck, Landrey was able to get it over to Karan Toor on the left point who stepped into a bullet of a shot that rang off the iron and fell into the back of the net.

That made it a 4-2 game at 10:48 of the second period but that was as close as the Spruce Kings would be held off the scoresheet the rest of the way by a goaltender with ties to Prince George. David Readman came in for the second half of the game after the Toor goal and only faced 7 shots the rest of the way. A result of some Spruce Kings misses and lots of blocked shots by Storm players.

Despite the loss, the Spruce Kings carried the majority of the play and had the better of the chances throughout the game. They never quit right to the end and one player in particular shone throughout the game. Jake LeBrun who was celebrating his 17th birthday was arguably the best player on the ice for the Spruce Kings. He worked hard down low and drew at least a couple of powerplay chances by just going hard to the net.

The Spruce Kings will now play their final preseason game and they'll play it at home after being in Chase on Tuesday and Wednesday and also in Grande Prairie for the Friday night game. The Storm will roll into the Castle for the 7:00pm game. Admission for the game is $5 per person at the door only. The game is expected to be available on FastHockey.com as the new system for delivery of the games on the internet is put to work.

Due to a few bumps and bruises, Kirk Hards will work himself back into the lineup and Spencer Schoech who is listed as a defenceman will again play the wing up front for the Spruce Kings. Kirk Thompson is expected to get the start in net for Prince George while it is expected that David Readman will get the start for the Grande Prairie Storm and will be in until the midway mark of the second period.

Following the game, the Spruce Kings management and coaching team will have the tough task of making the final two cuts to the 24 man roster that the team is down to now. That decision is being made more difficult by the play of a number of the younger players. BCHL rules regarding roster sizes and limits state that the teams must be down to a 22 man roster for the start of the regular season.