Collectively, the 2015-16 season wasn't one of the better ones for the Prince George Spruce Kings, who finished with just 14 wins and missed the B.C. Hockey League playoffs.
But that did not prevent Spruce Kings centre Kyle Johnson from getting noticed by NCAA college scouts.
On Wednesday, the Kings announced that Johnson has committed to Yale University to play for the Ivy League team in the 2018-19 season. Based in New Haven, Conn., the Bulldogs play in the NCAA's Division 1 East Coast Athletic Conference.
"I am excited and honoured to be joining such an amazing university and hockey program - I completely fell in love with everything about Yale after seeing campus," said Johnson, in a team release.
"The way they approach the process of helping young players develop both on the ice and off seems like a perfect fit for me. I feel it's completely the right spot for me to further my hockey and academic career.
"They have a recent track record of being a top team and when I get there I want to be a part of continuing that success. It's a great opportunity for me to join an elite hockey team in a great league. Having this commitment already in place will only help me focus on winning hockey games for the next two seasons with the Spruce Kings."
Johnson, who turns 18 on June 3, joined the Kings as a rookie last season after helping the Vancouver Northeast Chiefs win the B.C. Hockey Major Midget League championship in 2015. The five-foot-11, 180-pound native of Port Moody played in all 58 league games this past season, totaling 12 goals, 29 assists and 41 points, with 16 minutes in penalties.
"We are very excited for Kyle and his family," said Spruce Kings head coach Chad van Diemen. "Yale is a world-class university with a great hockey program. Kyle has worked very hard on the ice, off the ice and in the classroom to earn this opportunity. Our goal is to help Kyle prepare to be a student-athlete when he arrives on campus in the fall of 2018."
Johnson was one of three players (goalie Liam McCloskey and forward Parker Colley are the other two) the Spruce Kings recruited from the Chiefs team which beat the Cariboo Cougars in the 2015 provincial major midget playoff final.
"He is a terrific player and a great young man who is very deserving of this commitment," added Kings general manager Mike Hawes. "He joined our team at the start of last season and immediately showed that he has the commitment and skill to be a high-level player. We are very proud that Kyle has not only the hockey ability but the tremendous grades and commitment to his education that allow him to secure this prestigious commitment.
"We are also excited that Kyle will still be with our program for the next two seasons as he continues his development before joining the Yale program."
