There's a new goalie in the Prince George Spruce Kings' camp.
On Friday, they traded 18-year-old goalie Jack McGovern to the Rockland Nationals of the Central Canada Hockey League for future considerations and replaced him with another 18-year-old, Carter Woodside..
"We just needed to make a change," said Kings general manager Mike Hawes. "He had limited opportunity here (as backup to 20-year-old veteran Jett Alexander), I get that, but he'll be the first to admit in those opportunities he didn't play as well as he needed to. Jett can't play every game and we need to feel confident with the guy that goes in and plays games when Jett isn't playing and Jack was really struggling with his confidence so it was time to make a change."
Taking McGovern's place on the Spruce Kings' roster is Woodside, a native of Asquith, Sask., who started the season in the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League with the Princeton Posse, after playing most of last season with the Prince Albert Minot midget team.
In three games this year with the Posse, Woodside posted a 1.33 goals-against average and .933 save percentage. Before he joined the Kings, Woodside played goal for Merritt as a BCHL affiliate last Sunday and made 25 saves in a 5-3 win over Surrey. Thedn, in the Kings' 4-2 loss in Merritt, he came in to replace Alexander midway through the second period and blocked all 12 Cents shots he faced in 31 minutes of game action.
The Kootenay ICE picked Woodside in the sixth-round, 133rd overall, in the 2016 WHL bantam draft and traded his rights to the Regina Pats in August 2018. He appeared in one game for the Pats last season.
"He played for Merritt last week and we were fortunate he was available and were able to sign him," said Hawes. "His coach in Princeton, Mark McNaughton, let us know that Carter was there and shouldn't be there, he's way better than that league.
"We were familiar with Carter from his time in Prince Albert with the Mintos. We did our due diligence and watched a bunch of film and when we decided to make the change Carter was our guy. He was more than thrilled to sign with us and join our team."
Hawes said there could more personnel changes leading up the league roster deadline next Sunday as he tries to find a winning formula that will bring stability to the defending BCHL champs.
"We've got some players who aren't living up to expectations at this point," Hawes said.
The Kings are still without the services of two of their top-six forwards - right winger Chong Min Lee and centre Fin Williams. Lee, 20, is out with a separated shoulder and won't likely be ready to return until January. The 16-year-old Williams has missed six weeks after suffering a deep gash on the back of his leg from a skate blade Oct. 12. He's been recuperating at his home in North Vancouver and should see some action in Wednesday's game in Penticton. Through 13 games at the time of his injury the rookie forward had seven goals and 15 points.
Williams and Kings leading scorer Nicholas Poisson have been invited to the Canada West camp for the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge next weekend in Calgary and they won't play for the Kings in the Powell River game on Sunday.
The Spruce Kings host their annual Drop the Gloves and Sock It To 'Em promotion on Friday, Dec. 13 in their game against the Coquitlam Express. Fans are encouraged to being wrapped donations of winter clothing to the game to toss over the glass after the Kings score their first goal of the game. All donations will be given to the St. Vincent de Paul Society.
“This is arguably the most important game on our schedule this regular season,” said Kings business operations manager Kyle Anderson, “We really see the generosity of our fans come out during that game for such a great cause.”
The Kings will also be collecting nonperishable food items that night for the Christmas food drive.
“Being a community-owned team in a downtown arena really brings this promotion even closer to home,” said Anderson, “We already have sold over 900 tickets for that game and are excited to see the largest crowd of the year that night.”
Tickets are on sale at the Spruce Kings office at RMCA Monday to Friday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m., or online at sprucekings.bc.ca. For games in December the team is offering tickets for $5 for kids aged six-18.
