Some former hockey players with Prince George connections are making news around junior A hockey these days.
Zack Rassell sits 12th in the Alberta Junior Hockey League in scoring after eight games, with five goals and 10 points. The 20-year-old is playing for the Canmore Eagles, the team that traded his rights to the Prince George Spruce Kings at last January's trade deadline... Former Prince George Cougars forward Shane Pilling has a goal and seven assists in six games with the AJHL Brooks Bandits. The 19-year-old missed most of last season with the WHL Cats recovering from post-concussion syndrome. The Bandits were ranked No. 1 in the Canadian Junior Hockey League on Monday... After four seasons with the WHL Cougars, forward Greg Fraser is playing his 20-year-old campaign with his hometown Naniamo Clippers. In nine games, Fraser has two goals and six points, second on the Clippers in scoring. He as a four-game point streak going. Fraser and the Clippers are scheduled to play in Prince George against the Spruce Kings on Feb. 1... The Fitzgerald triplets - Leo, Myles and Gerry - left behind many fans in Prince George when the Spruce Kings shipped them to the Victoria Grizzlies over the summer. But the change of crest on their jerseys hasn't hurt as Myles has four goals and eight points this season, while Gerry, last week's player of the week, trails is older sibling by one point... Three BCHL players currently have six-game point streaks going - Wade Murphy (Penticton), Luke Esposito (Chilliwack) and Mitch Nardi (Coquitlam). Nardi also has assists in his last six games while Murphy has helpers in five straight... No surprise for the Spruce Kings penalty killers but the Merritt Centennials lead the BCHL with the top power-play unit with a 37.93 percentage (11-for-29). Saturday night the Centennials scored three power-play goals in the second period, beating the Kings 6-2. The Alberni Bulldogs lead the league with power-play goals with 14 (54 opportunities).
