The Prince George Spruce Kings will be sporting a new look next season with half the players on the roster new to the team.
Those first-year Spruce Kings will have ample opportunity to introduce themselves to their home fans in Prince George during the first two months of the season.
The B.C. Hockey League released its 2016-17 schedule Thursday and the Spruce Kings will play 14 of their first 18 games in the friendly confines of Rolling Mix Concrete Arena. But there's a price to pay for that for Kings fans at the tail end of the season in January and February, when 18 of the team's last 22 games are on the road.
It all starts Friday, Sept. 9, when the Kings host the Merritt Centennials in their season-opener, followed the next night by a home date with the Penticton Vees.
The following week, the Wenatchee Wild will take up residence in Prince George with three games in four nights at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena, Sept. 14-17. Then it's off to Chilliwack for the Bauer BCHL Showcase, where the Spruce Kings will face Merritt, Sept. 22, and Penticton, Sept. 24, their only road games in September.
Seven of nine Spruce Kings games in November will be played in Prince George.
The Kings' regular season wraps up with games in Coquitlam, Feb. 24; Langley, Feb. 25; and Chilliwack, Feb. 26.
The BCHL's Christmas schedule break is from Dec. 19-28.
Other dates of note for BCHL fans include the World Junior A Challenge, Dec. 11-17 in Bonnyville, Alta., and the RBC Cup national championship, May 13-21 in Cobourg, Ont.
