The Prince George Spruce Kings have made a deal with Penticton, but it involves sending their top rookie to the Okanagan.
Fin Williams has been traded to the Vees after a memorable season-and-a-bit with the Kings, which included helping the red, white and blue hoist it’s first-ever Fred Page and Doyle Cups in 2019.
According to General Manager Mike Hawes, Williams had actually requested a trade to Penticton at the end of last year.
“This certainly was surprising to me and the rest of the organization based on the opportunities we had provided Fin as a 15-year-old affiliate player during our long playoff run two seasons ago and last season as a 16-year-old player that played in all minutes of all situations," he explained in a team statement.
"I was told that a lot of Fin’s focus for this upcoming season will be on the NHL draft and he feels his chances of getting drafted is better in Penticton based largely on the fact that they are scheduled to host the National Championship this season. It took some time, but Fred (Fred Harbinson, Head Coach and General Manager of Penticton) and I were able to reach an agreement."
The 17-year-old from North Vancouver scored 11 goals and 32 points in his 40-game 2019-20 campaign as an alternate captain with Prince George.
In the season prior, Williams, as a 15-year-old, scored his first BCHL goal in Game Two of the Fred Page Cup Final against Vernon which turned out to be the eventual game-winner to propel Prince George to a 2-0 series lead.
Eight days before his 16th birthday, Finn Williams has his first BCHL goal for the @SpruceKings!
— BC Hockey League (@GoBCHL) April 14, 2019
Yes, that's a 2003-born scoring in the Fred Page Cup final. #BCHLPlayoffs pic.twitter.com/ft6rdlje1D
That was one of his combined four points in 18 post-season games as a Spruce King.
He also captained Team B.C. at the 2019 Canada Winter Games in Red Deer, tallying nine points in seven games, and is committed to playing NCAA Division One hockey at the University of Michigan in 2021-22 season.
In return, the Spruce Kings are receiving future considerations from Penticton.
