Nick Rheaume knew this was going to be his last season of junior hockey and you’d have to say he’s made the most of his opportunities.
After joining the team last year for the pod season, played in pandemic isolation in the Chilliwack pod, Spruce Kings fans finally got to see for themselves this season what the 19-year-old native of Sherbrooke, Que., is capable of achieving on the ice.
Playing left wing mostly on a line with Rowan Miller and Simon Labelle, Rheaume led the Kings in scoring and proved his durability, playing all but one of the team’s 54 regular season games. His 29 goals and 30 assists added up to 59 points, 13th overall in the BCHL scoring race.
Named as the Kings’ most valuable player at their awards banquet Saturday, Rheaume was a key cog in the Spruce Kings’ drive to finish fourth in the Interior Conference, which guaranteed they will open the playoffs on home ice at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena on Friday against the Cranbrook Bucks in a best-of-seven series.
The other Spruce Kings award winners were:
Rookie of the year: Jordan Fairlie
Top defenceman: Colton Cameron
Most dedicated player: Rowan Miller and Aaron Trotter
Most improved player: Ty Gagno and Ben LeFranc
Plus/minus award: Nick Rheaume
Outstanding community service: Jordan Fairlie and Dylan Schives
Scholastic player: Evan Fedele
Most inspirational player: Kolton Cousins
Fan favourite: John Herrington
Top scorer: Nick Rheaume
X Conditioning off-ice fitness: Jordan Fairlie and Luc Laylin
Seventh player award: John Herrington and Amran Bhabra
Volunteer of the year: Sue Baldridge and Tom Baratta
