Alex Roach is a step closer to dancing in the National Hockey League.
The 18 year old former major midget Cariboo Cougar defenceman was signed by the Los Angeles Kings after being invited to training camp as a free agent.
"He was a guy that was doing like a dance off [in the dressing room]," said Cougars coach Trevor Sprague, who coached Roach two years ago. "He was always a character guy within the team and within the room."
During his stint in Prince George, Roach put up 21 points, including six goals in 40 games.
"He had a goofiness attitude about him and it let everybody relax a little bit around him," said Sprague. "A lot of guys looked up to him at the same time."
Sprague said between the Kings signing Roach and former Cougars Brett Connolly and Ryan Howse - drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning and Calgary Flames respectfully - it reflects well on the Cougars' program.
"The alumni group represents what we're all about," said Sprague. "It's pretty exciting as an organization to have a kid like Alex be a part of the NHL and the LA Kings. It's something that we're proud of."
After helping the Cougars reach the B.C. Major Midget League final in 2010, the Quesnel product moved on to the Western Hockey League's Calgary Hitmen where he had four goals and 16 points in 61 games as a rookie.
Kelly Kisio, general manager of the Hitmen, said he liked how Roach's game improved as the season progressed.
"At times he struggled, but in the last half of the year he got much better and continued to grow as a player," said Kisio.
Roach had a quick learning curve, having had the opportunity to play in a variety of situations, including on the power play and penalty kill, since the Hitmen struggled to a 20-47-3-2 record and a last-place finish in the WHL.
"He's a big guy that's still growing into his body as far as strength and things like that go," said Kisio about the six-foot-four, 220-pound Roach. "He's been a very good player for us and we expect him to get much better."
Kisio said he was surprised when Roach's name wasn't called at the 2011 NHL Entry Draft in June.
"I think a lot of teams looked at our hockey team, and since we were a last-place team, assumed we had no prospects on it," said Kisio. "But, we had some pretty solid young defencemen that didn't get much recognition because we lost quite often."
The stay-at-home defenceman returned to the Hitmen on Monday and should be in the lineup when they play in Lethbridge on Friday.
Roach's parents, William and Elfriede, in Quesnel are happy to see their son's hard work rewarded.
"It was always his goal; it's all he wanted to do," said Elfriede.
Alex Roach was unavailable at press time.
