It's only been nine games, but Raymond Grewal is happy to be back playing hockey again.
The six-foot-two 195-pound defenceman suffered a concussion in the first game of training camp with the WHL's Prince George Cougars, but was then reassigned earlier this month across town to the BCHL's Prince George Spruce Kings.
The 19-year-old, who grew up in Prince George, is now manning the blueline in all sorts of situations for the Kings and is contributing to the team's success.
He picked up a couple assists in the Kings 4-1 victory over the Trail Smoke Eaters Saturday night. He has five points (one goal, four assists) so far.
"It's been really fun," he said after Saturday's victory at the Coliseum. "The coaching staff has been really helpful and I know most of the guys. It's been an enjoyable experience."
Grewal fills a void on the Kings back-end since their best defenceman, Karan Toor, went down in training camp with a lingering groin injury.
"I was disappointed with what happened with the Cougars but I talked to [Kings general manager Mike] Hawes and he was really helpful and knows what I bring to the table," said Grewal. "[He] knows I can be counted on in a lot of different situations. I'm getting a lot of ice time and getting used to the different systems and adapting to my new surroundings."
Sunday afternoon, the visiting Powell River Kings skated out to a 3-0 lead and hung on to edge Prince George 3-2.
The Spruce Kings outshot Powell River 46-18, and despite goals from captain Chad Staley and defenceman Adam Clements in the latter half of the game, couldn't score the equalizer.
Saturday at the Coliseum, Brent Lashuk scored a pair of goals, including the game winner to lead the Kings to a 4-1 win.
After a scoreless first period, Clements scored his first goal in the BCHL early in the second period for the Kings to draw even with the Smokies. The game remained tied until Lashuk's eventual winner midway through the third period as the Kings erupted for three goals in the third, including a single tally from Marco Ballarin.
The Smokies pulled netminder Brett Clark with two minutes left in the game for the extra attacker and Lashuk put the game away shortly after with an empty-netter.
Grewal said one of his goals is helping the Kings have team success.
"I just want to make the playoffs," he said. "I haven't done that before on a junior team. I just try to take it game by game and have fun."
The Kings are now 9-5-0-2 and remain in second place in the Mainland Division, one point back behind the division-leading Chilliwack Chiefs (10-2-0-1).
With Sunday's win, Powell River improves to 5-6-0-4 to remain in fourth place in the Island Division.
Prince George embarks on a two-game road trip to this week, with stops in Coquitlam on Wednesday and Langley on Thursday.
