Prince George might be the capital of northern B.C., but it's a tiny town compared to Corey Hoffman's home in Long Island, N.Y.
He's from Syosset, close enough to New York City to see the long shadows cast by Manhattan skyscrapers.
After two seasons playing in Texas with the Odessa Jackalopes of the North American Hockey League, the 19-year-old centre decided a one-year tour of duty in the B.C. Hockey League was what he needed to make the jump to the NCAA next season and he joined the Prince George Spruce Kings in August.
So far, the move has worked out well for Hoffman. He's earned a position centring the Kings' top line with Braiden Epp and Kyle Johnson and leads the team in scoring with five goals, nine assists and 14 points in 14 games.
Hoffman is one of two Spruce Kings cruising around the city in vehicles with New York plates. Defenceman Ryan Fritz, of Rochester, N.Y., is still recovering from off-season knee surgery. The 19-year-old has resumed skating but has yet to play a game this season.
"It's definitely a bit of a change from the big city but it's a nice community, everyone seems pretty friendly here," said the five-foot-nine, 165-pound Hoffman, who had 10 goals and 32 points in 34 games with Odessa last season. "(The BCHL) is definitely a faster pace and I think it will prepare me well for college next year."
Hoffman is bound next season for Cornell University in Ithaca, N.Y., on a hockey scholarship and despite his team's slow start he's not regretting his decision to come to Prince George to develop his skills in the BCHL.
Cornell has won the ECAC tournament a record 12 times and has 21 Ivy League titles, second only to Harvard. Ken Dryden and Joe Nieuwendyk are the most famous Big Red alumni.
"I'm excited to go there - it's a pretty good school - but I'm just worried about this year first, trying to get some wins," Hoffman said.
Cornell first got interested in Hoffman watching him play as a 16-year-old in Odessa. He played the 2013-14 season for the Jersey Hitmen of the U.S. Premier Hockey League and returned to the NAHL last year.
"He knows it is a very big transition from junior into college and we're trying to work with him every day so he can go in and become an impact guy right from his first day on campus," said Kings head coach Chad van Diemen. "We're happy he decided to come and join our club this season. He brings speed, good offence and a good attitude. He comes to the rink wanting to get better. He's an undersized centreman and he has to learn the defensive side of the game to make up for that lack of size."
The Kings host the Coquitlam Express tonight (7 p.m.) and Saturday at the Coliseum, their first games at home since Oct. 3. Having lost three straight, Hoffman says his team just needs to stick to its own gameplan to have success this weekend. Coming off a 6-2 loss at home to Langley on Wednesday, Coquitlam (6-6-1-2) ranks fourth in the Mainland Division and holds an eight-point edge over the sixth-place Spruce Kings (3-10-0-1), who have played one fewer game.
"I think we all have to buy into the same system here and just listen to the coaches a little more and play more as a team and hopefully we can get some wins," said Hoffman. "It doesn't matter how many goals we score as a line, we kind of have to work on how many we let up defensively and we have to crack down on that. If we can do that I think we can scrape together some points here."
Epp is in better shape than he was at the start of the season and has shown signs lately he's pulled out of his scoring slump - now tied with defenceman Adam Brubacher for second in Spruce Kings scoring with four goals and nine points. Epp says having Hoffman around is making his job at right wing a lot easier.
"He's a fast guy and can move the puck and he's also got a crazy shot, so for me, I just have to get open and if he passes to me I just have to get the puck on the net," said Epp. "Overall, he's just a great player. We got together two weeks ago and we're obviously clicking, now we just have to get some wins here.
"Those two Interior trips back-to-back were tough on the body with six games in nine days and it was tough to get sleep, so we're back at home now and it should be an advantage for us."
The Kings won just two of six games the past two weekends on their Interior Division tour but both victories were against teams with winning records - Salmon Arm and Vernon. On both occasions, 17-year-old goalie Liam McCloskey was the difference-maker and he'll get the start in the Kings nets tonight over 20-year-old Sam Tanguay, who has been battling the flu this week.
"We have to start capitalizing on our home-ice advantage," said van Diemen. "We're 0-4 at home, which doesn't sit well with anyone in the organization. We've had a full week of practice for a change and we need to come out with a good effort this weekend."
None of the Spruce Kings is in the league's top-20 scorers and the team is averaging a league-worst 2.21 goals per game. The good news is their power play has been a lot more productive lately. After going 0-for-31 to start the season they've scored nine times in their last 30 opportunities. The downside of that is Prince George has allowed opponents to score four shorthanded goals. The Kings' penalty killing ranks 16th out of 17 teams with a 72.46 per cent success rate.
Coquitlam head coach Barry Wolff has been getting major production from his top line. Jackson Cressey (10-13-23) ranks fourth in BCHL scoring and Colton Kerfoot is not far behind (7-13-20), ninth in the BCHL, while Austin McIlmurray has 14 points in 14 games.
The Kings have moved a few players in and out since they last played at home. On Thursday, they sent forward Oliver Trachsel to Grande Prairie (AJHL) for future considerations. On Oct. 10 they picked up 18-year-old forward Jordan Funk and futures in a deal with Fort McMurray (AJHL) which sent forward Cole Todd, 20, to the Oil Barons. Forward Rider Stoglin, 19, has requested a trade and left the Kings three weeks ago for his home in Littleton, Colo.
SIDEBAR
Homes fit for Kings required
The Spruce Kings need some help finding billet homes for their players. General manager Mike Hawes said the team is seeking homes in the community for three or four players to provide food and lodging, which the team will pay for during the season. For more information call billet co-ordinator Ron Gallo, 250-564-1747.
