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Spruce Kings hire Garneau

Jason Garneau knows the drill as a hockey coach and when normalcy returns to the world he will step into a familiar role as an assistant on the Prince George Spruce Kings' staff. The B.C.
Citizen Staff
Cariboo Cougars WEB.jpg
Mark Lamb, head coach and general manager of the Prince George Cougars, speaks at media event to announce the Cougars' involvement in a new minor hockey alliance which involves the city's rep teams. Next to Lamb, from far left, are Andy Beesley, the Cougars vice-president, business; rep team head coaches, from left, Brent McIsaac, Mirsad Mujcin, Jason Garneau, Ryan Howse, and Tyler Brough; and Cariboo Cougars general manager Trevor Sprague. Garneau, who coached the North Central zone midget double-A team the past two seasons, has been hired by the Prince George Spruce Kings as an assistant coach.Handout photo
Jason Garneau knows the drill as a hockey coach and when normalcy returns to the world he will step into a familiar role as an assistant on the Prince George Spruce Kings' staff.
The B.C. Hockey League team announced it has hired Garneau, who will take on the previous role he held with the Kings for eight seasons, from 2008-16. 
“I am obviously very familiar with Jason and know exactly what he can bring to the coaching staff,” says Kings general manager Mike Hawes, in a team release. “We are all excited that he is rejoining the team and looking forward to the experience and expertise he will provide to the staff and players.
"Jason will resume the same role with us that he previously had where he will be at all practices, all home games and will make some road trips. We will be hiring another full time assistant coach prior to next season."
Garneau served as head coach of the North Central zone double-A midget Bobcats the past two seasons. He coached 15 years in the Prince George Minor Hockey Association before he first joined the Spruce Kings in 2008.
Colin Minardi, who joined the Kings as associate coach in mid-October, decided to step down from his coaching duties with the team. Minardi replaced Jessie Leung, who left Prince George for personal reasons after two months assisting head coach Alex Evin.
“Colin was a huge asset for our team last season," said Hawes. "He came into a tough situation because he joined us part way through the year, but he was able to get up to speed quickly and really became a good support person for Alex and the players says Hawes."
The Spruce Kings' office at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena is closed indefinitely during the COVID-19 crisis but the team is selling season tickets and game packages for the 2020-21 season through the website, sprucekings.bc.ca.
Tickets for the 2020 Spruce Kings Show Home Lottery and the Third Period Mega 50/50 will be on sale until April 27 at 10 p.m., available online at sprucekingsshowhome.ca. The draw for the $730,000 house, built in the Aberdeen Glen subdivision at 3738 Links Dr., is on Friday, May 1 at noon.