The Prince George Spruce Kings have found another piece in the puzzle to assemble a team next season.
Luca Primerano, a 2005-born forward from North Vancouver who now plays for the Burnaby Winter Club’s U18 Prep team will suit for the Kings in the 2022-23 season.
Craig Carter, the Kings assistant general manager, had watched Primerano blossom in the Canadian Sports School Hockey League and says he will fit in well making the jump to the BCHL next season.
“Luca is another 200-foot player who will be an all-situations guy at the next level with his skill-set and hockey sense,” said Carter. “He is also another player with high character and compete level. Luca is a player that I have watched closely this year at Burnaby Winter Club, and he really stood out as a top guy under Mike Santorelli and I’m really excited to add him to this recruiting class for next
fall.”
The six-foot-one, 170-pound Primerano, who turns 17 in March, has 10 goals and 19 assists in 20 games with his Burnaby team.
“I am excited for the opportunity to play with the Spruce Kings next season,” said Primerano. “I got the chance to visit for a few days and the organization and the players were very welcoming. I hope to bring an offensive, 200-foot game to the team and want to continue to get better every day. I look forward to next season.”
The Spruce Kings (17-9-2-1-0, .638 winning percentage, third in Interior Conference) host one of the top teams in the BCHL Wednesday at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena when they take on the Penticton Vees (21-5-0-2-0, .786 winning percentage, second in Interior).
The Vees have so far won two of three meetings this season with the Kings. They lost in Prince George 7-1 on Oct. 29, then reeled wins in Penticton Oct. 29 (3-0) and Dec. 1 (5-1). The Spruce Kings wrap up the season series with games in Penticton Feb. 19 and March 4.
Spruce King goalie Jordan Fairlie of Fort St. John continues to lead the league with a 1.64 goals-against average and .932 save percentage, now sporting a 7-2-3 record.
King centre John Herrington of Hudson’s Hope is 10th in the BCHL scoring race with 17 goals and 18 assists for 35 points in 29 games. The Vees have three scorers in the top-10. Luc Wilson (15-25-40) ranks fourth, former Spruce Kings Fin Williams (12-25-37) is seventh and Josh Nadeau (21-15-36) is eighth.
Salmon Arm Silverbacks right winger Simon Tassey (25-24-49 in 28 games) leads the point parade.
Following Wednesday’s game, the Spruce Kings board the bus for Trail, where they’ll play the Smoke Eaters Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
