The Prince George Spruce Kings beat the B.C. Hockey League trade deadline Saturday and have acquired two new players from Ontario.
Oshawa native Aidan Carolan, 18, is coming to Prince George in a deal with the Brockville Braves of the Central Canada Hockey League. The five-foot-11 185-pound centre collected 14 goals and 16 assists in 37 games this season with the Braves.
“Aidan is a hard-working player whose attention to detail is excellent. He's a player who will contribute in all areas of the game for us,” said Kings general manager Mike Hawes.
“He has a good nose for the net but also understands the defensive side of the game.”
In a separate deal with the Pembroke Lumber Kings of the CCHL, the Spruce Kings added 18-year-old forward Vital Dinis. The Ottawa native had 31 points in 35 games this season with the Lumber Kings, the Ottawa, Ontario product recorded 31 points.
“Vital is a young player with a lot of size and skill,” said Hawes. “He thinks the game very well and is a tremendous addition to our group.”
Dinis stands six-foot-one and weighs 190 pounds.
“My goal at this roster deadline was to add two good young players to our roster while keeping the majority of the group intact," said Hawes. “As a staff, we believe in this group and feel they can make some noise down the stretch and into the playoffs.”
On Wednesday the Spruce Kings acquired 18-year-old defenceman Aidan Souligny a trade from the Salmon Arm Silverbacks that sent 20-year-old defenceman Max Ranstrom to Salmon Arm.
The Kings (13-23-3-0, eighth in Interior Conference) will play this weekend on Vancouver Island in a three-game, three-day trip to face Victoria, Cowichan Valley and Alberni Valley.
