The Prince George Spruce Kings have done it again.
For the second time in less than a week they’ve added a U.S. college hockey prospect to their roster.
On Monday, the B.C. Hockey League team announced it has acquired 19-year-old defenceman Nick Marciano in a trade from the Cowichan Valley Capitals for 18-year-old defenceman Connor Elliott and future considerations.
The six-foot-two, 194-pound Marciano is one of the BCHL’s highest point-producing defencemen, with two goals and 13 assists in 21 games this season with the Capitals.
He’s been recruited to Princeton University for the 2022-23 season.
Prior to joining the Caps over the summer, Marciano played four games last season for the Minnesota Wilderness of the NAHL and spent three years in the U.S. High School league at Kent School in his home state of Connecticut.
“We’re thrilled to add a player like Nick to our lineup," said Kings general manager Mike Hawes. H"e has shown that he is a top-level defenceman in our league. He will be a key contributor in all areas of the game for us."
Elliott, a native of Coldstream, had one assist in 16 games with the Spruce Kings. He had a goal and six assists in 19 games in the 2021 pod season.
Last week, the Spruce Kings signed 19-year-old centre Luc Laylin, a St. Thomas University recruit. Laylin joined the Kings in time for their game Saturday in Salmon Arm, where they shut out the Silverbacks 5-0, and the Minnesota native scored the opening goal.
The Kings return to action Thursday at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena, where they host the expansion Cranbrook Bucs in the start of a three-game series.
For Friday’s game against the Bucks, fans are being asked to bring donations of new clothing to be thrown over the glass when the Kings score their first goal on Drop the Gloves and Sock It To ‘Em night. All proceeds will go to the St. Vincent de Paul Society..
During Friday’s game, as part of the BCHL’s 60th anniversary and the Spruce Kings’ 50th anniversary celebrations, the Kings will pay tribute to alumni members who played for the team in the 1980s. Fans will need to get their tickets early because pandemic health restrictions limit the crowd size to 1,000 people, half the capacity at RMCA.
