The Prince George Spruce Kings will have local content in one key position starting next season.
The Kings have signed goaltender Ryder Green, a 16-year-old native of Prince George who currently stops pucks for the Cariboo Cougars.
"Ryder is an elite-level goaltender and an elite-level human,” said Kings general manager Mike Hawes. “Adding in the fact that Ryder and his family are proud northern B.C. residents from Prince George makes this commitment a no-brainer for us."
Green is one of the reasons the Cougars are battling for first place in the B.C. Elite Hockey League U-18 standings. After 17 games he sports a 13-2-2 record with a 2.74 goals-against average.
Listed at five-foot-11, 156 pounds, Green played last year for Team B.C. at the Canada Winter Games in Prince Edward Island and put up a 3.00 GGA and .915 save percentage in three games.
I am very grateful for this opportunity," said Green. "I remember watching Spruce Kings games growing up with my parents, so this is very special for me and my family."
The Spruce Kings host the Salmon Arm Silverbacks Friday night (7 p.m.) at Kopar Memorial Arena in the first of a two-game back-to-back series.
The club is planning a minute of silence to remember Prince George photographer Chuck Chin, who died suddenly on Saturday. All proceeds of the 50-50 draw that night will be donated to the Prince George Community Foundation's Chuck Chin Legacy Fund.
