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Future NCAA hockey player joining Prince George Spruce Kings from Ontario

Simon Labelle acquired for upcoming shortened 2020-21 season
Kyle Balzer
Kyle Balzer
Simon Labelle - Rockland Nationals
Simon Labelle, seen here as a member of the Rockland Nationals, has been dealt to the Prince George Spruce Kings for the 2020-21 season. (via Rockland Nationals)

There are now six players among the Prince George Spruce Kings who’ve put pen to paper on attending college in the near future.

On Saturday (Nov. 21), the team announced that it acquired Simon Labelle from the Rockland Nationals of the Central Canadian Hockey League (CCHL), who is also an NCAA Division One hockey-committed athlete for September 2021.

The 18-year-old left-winger signed with the Colgate University Raiders based in central New York state, but will suit up with the Spruce Kings in continuing his Junior ‘A’ stint.

“Simon is a very talented player with a ton of speed who will provide some offense to our forward group,” says Prince George General Manager Mike Hawes in a news release. 

“We’re excited to add him to our team.”

Labelle was brought to the Spruce Kings three days after current forward Darwin Lakoduk announced his commitment to American International College in the state of Massachusetts.

Other Spruce Kings set to take their talents south of the border next year are as follows:

  • Corey Cunningham = Merrimack College
  • Andrew Seaman = Union College
  • Austin Spiridakis = Quinnipiac University
  • Mason Waite = St. Lawrence University

Labelle is currently quarantining at his home in Ottawa for two weeks, as per Canada’s travel restrictions during COVID-19, as he was playing in New Jersey in the North American Hockey League (NAHL) and is expected to arrive in northern B.C. before the end of the month.

He finished his 2019-20 campaign in Rockland with 51 points in 54 games, including 24 goals and 27 assists, and was named to the CCHL’s High School Academic All-Star team off the ice.

Labelle was also drafted by the Sudbury Wolves of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) in the league’s 2018 priority selection draft, taken 181st overall in the 10th round.

To complete the trade, Prince George is sending future considerations to the Nationals.

The Spruce Kings are currently waiting to hear its schedule for the shortened 2020-21 campaign, which has been delayed to Dec. 8 by the BCHL to meet the province's latest COVID-19 restrictions on travel for sports teams.