Most B.C. Hockey League players good enough to warrant scholarship offers from college hockey teams don't sign those commitments until they're already well established at the junior level.
Fifteen-year-old Prince George Spruce Kings centre Fin Williams is an exception to the rule, simply because he's an exceptional hockey player. He'd only played four games in the BCHL as an affiliate player when the University of Michigan Wolverines decided they wanted him in their future and sent him an NCAA commitment letter to sign.
Michigan spent enough time watching the North Vancouver native play this season with the Burnaby Winter Club midget prep team to know it made sense to make Williams an offer he accepted March 11.
It didn't take long for Williams to make a big impression on Spruce Kings fans, giving them a taste of what they can expect for the next two seasons.
Less than five minutes into Friday's third-round playoff game against the Victoria Grizzlies, Williams got to a loose puck behind the net that was mishandled by Grizzlies goalie Kurtis Chapman and came out on a wraparound with a backhander that was on its way into the net until Grizzlies defenceman Carter Berger swatted the puck away with his glove. Williams came that close to his first BCHL goal.
Then in Game 2, about six minutes into the third period, Williams heading into the corner in the Victoria zone and laid a clean shoulder check on Grizzlies forward Marty Westhaver. The inpact left Westhaver in pain, favouring his shoulder, and he left the ice immediately and headed for the dressing room. Losing Westhaver, one of the leading pointgetters in the playoffs with eight goals and seven assists in 13 playoff games for any duration would be a major blow to the Grizzlies and he did not play in Game 3 Monday in Victoria.
"Sean Donaldson beat out the icing (call) and the puck slipped out loose to (Westhaver) and I saw a chance to hit him and knock him off the puck," said Williams. "I was just trying to bring energy to my team and I think I did that with that hit."
Two impactful shifts, and five-foot-11, 170-pound Williams is just getting started.
"He finds a way to contribute and he's such an elite player," said Kings head coach Adam Maglio.
"Fin is the type of kid, he wants to play so bad he'll play any role and do what's right for the team. He really has a pro mentality, it's not just his skill set. He's going to be an offensive contributor and at the same time when he needs to kind of spark the team he can do those things to make an impact in the game."
The Kings are obviously feeling good about the fact Williams chose Prince George instead of playing in the WHL with the Swift Current Broncos, who picked him in the third round, 54th overall in the 2018 bantam draft.
"I wanted to get an education and it's always been a dream of mine to play in the NCAA and it was a hard decision but I committed to the University of Michigan," Williams said.
"I really wanted to play for the Spruce Kings based on what they have going here and where the program's heading and the coaches. This is going to be a key spot for me in my journey for the next couple years and I really believe in them to help me get to the next level."
Six Kings on the current roster are Burnaby Winter Club alumni and that made it easier for Williams to make up his mind. In 50 games this season with his midget team in Burnaby, playing in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League, Williams scored 18 goals and had 37 assists for 55 points. The Kings called him up for two regular-season games in October and two in January.
In March at the Canada Winter Games in Red Deer he was one of Team B.C.'s top scorers with five goals and four assists in seven games.
"That was so cool to compete against the top players in my age group across Canada, we didn't do too well but we all learned a couple things and used it for motivation," said Williams.
He's thrilled to be along for the ride as the Spruce Kings push for their first-ever BCHL title and playing in front of two packed houses at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena was unlike anything he's ever experienced in his career.
"It was a cool atmosphere in here, something real cool for me to a part of as an (affiliated player)," said Williams.
"I'm just really happy I'm able to be here and be part of the journey in the playoff run they have going now. It's exciting for me to learn from the older guys in the room and the coaches and the level of hockey they have here."
