The Prince George Spruce Kings have traded a stopper for a finisher.
They completed a deal Tuesday with the Vernon Vipers to acquire Garrett Worth, a five-foot-10, 176-pound forward from Duluth, Minn., in exchange for goalie Bradley Cooper and future considerations.
Worth, 19, emerged as a deadly sniper last season in his native Minnesota in his third year with the Duluth East high school team. As captain of the team, he collected 38 goals and 19 assists for 57 points in 25 games. He also played 22 games for Team North, a select team of high school players, and in 21 games had 12 goals and 10 assists for 22 points. Worth was picked for the U.S. High School All-USA Hockey second team.
He also had 10 productive games in the North American Hockey League for the Minnesota Wilderness, scoring six goals and three assists for nine points. In four games this season with the Vipers, Worth had a goal and an assist.
He has signed a commitment with Arizona State for the 2019-20 season.
"We're excited to be adding a great young man and excellent player like Garrett to our team," said Kings general manager Mike Hawes in a team release.
"He will help strengthen our forward group and provide us with some more offensive punch up front. At the same time we are sad to see Brad Cooper go. He's been an excellent player and teammate during his time here and we wish him all the best in Vernon."
Cooper, a 19-year-old product of the Burnaby Winter Club from West Vancouver, was in his second season with the Spruce Kings and held the backup role behind starter Logan Neaton.
Cooper was the BCHL's player of the week on the final weekend of the 2017-18 regular season when he posted back-to-back shutouts on the road in Chilliwack and Langley. He had four shutouts in 15 games last year as a BCHL rookie, finishing with a 7-7 record, 2.31 goals-against average and .918 save percentage.
In eight games this season he had two shutouts and compiled a 3-5 record with a 2.28 goals-against average and .914 save percentage.
Worth arrived in Prince George Wednesday.
