Sometimes the business side of running a junior hockey team makes it difficult to be the head coach.
Especially when it means telling a 19-year-old veteran his services are no longer required.
Prince George Spruce Kings coach Chad van Diemen had the task of informing defenceman Cooper Prechel after practice Wednesday he's been released to make room on the 22-player roster for 18-year-old defenceman Trent Huitema.
The Kings acquired the six-foot-seven, 200-pound Huitema earlier in the day in a trade from the Surrey Eagles for future considerations. The native of Chillwack started the season in the WHL with the Spokane Chiefs and in six games with the Chiefs had one goal and four penalty minutes. Huitema was held off the scoreboard in three games this season for Surrey. One of those games was last Thursday in Surrey, where the Spruce Kings lost 2-1 in double-overtime.
"He's a big body and he skates well for his size and plays a heavy game, he's not shy and he's a smart player with good reach and good stick, so he has a lot of tools to work with," said van Diemen.
"He's played in the Western League and got some good experience there and he played all last year in Surrey. We just felt for this year and moving into next year it was an opportunity to add a guy who should be able to heat a lot of key minutes."
Huitema played two games for Spokane last season but spent most of his time with the Eagles. notching seven assists and 48 penalty minutes in 46 games.
Injuries forced Prechel to miss nine of the Spruce Kings 23 games this season. The Penticton native just returned to the lineup two weeks ago after being sidelined with a concussion.
"The injuries add up and that's frustrating to go through as a player but he never let that affect him, he was always great in the room with the guys and it's tough to move out a player like that and person like that," said van Diemen.
After being away on the B.C. Hockey League road the past two weeks, the Spruce Kings (10-10-2-0, third in Mainland Division) return to home ice Friday night to take on the Nanaimo Clippers in their only regular-season visit to Prince George. The Clippers (11-10-3-0, fourth in Island Division) have lost their past three games and 1-4-1-0 in November. The Kings are coming off a 6-3 win Saturday in Coquitlam.
On Saturday the Kings host Surrey at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena. The Eagles, who are at home tonight to take on Salmon Arm, were three points behind the Spruce Kings heading into tonight's game.
