The Prince George Spruce Kings have solidified their coaching staff for the upcoming season, announcing this week they've hired Jessie Leung as associate coach and Nick Drazenovic as skills and development coach.
Leung, 34, B.C. Hockey League coaching experience as an associate with the Trail Smoke Eaters the past two seasons, helping the team reach the Interior Conference final last season, after taking the team two rounds deep into the playoffs in 2017-18.
Prior to joining the Smokies in 2017, the 34-year-old New Westminster native built a 73-35-10-4 record coaching the Valley West Hawks in the B.C. Hockey Major Midget League - three years as the head coach and three as an assistant. With Leung at the helm, the Hawks won the major midget league championship in 2016.
“I’m excited to be joining a first-class organization in the Prince George Spruce Kings," said Leung, in a team release. "As someone who watched the program from a far last season, I was impressed with the structure, execution and accountability demonstrated throughout the team."
Leung will be behind the Kings' bench with Alex Evin, who has taken on the role as head coach since the departure of Adam Maglio, who moved on to the WHL with Spokane Chiefs.
“I’m excited to add Jessie to our staff," said Kings general manager Mike Hawes. "I know that he will complement Alex very well. Our discussions with Jessie over the past couple of weeks have been very good. His knowledge of the game is exceptional and I’m confident that he understands what are expectations are as an organization. Our organization has taken a lot of strides forward in recent years and adding a good coach like Jessie will help us continue down that path."
Drazenovic is no stranger to Prince George junior hockey. A former captain of the Prince George Cougars, he was the WHL team's director of player development the past three seasons, beginning in February 2017. After getting drafted by the St. Louis Blues in the sixth round in 2005, Drazenovic played nine seasons of pro hockey in the NHL and AHL before he retired in 2016.
“I’m excited to join the Spruce Kings and I’m excited to continue to help grow hockey development in the city that has given me so much,” said Drazenovic.
Drazenovic, a 32-year-old native of Prince George, is owner-operator of Northern Elite Hockey, a local organization which teaches skills to hockey players of all ages.
“I’ve known Nick for a lot of years and am very proud and excited to add him to our coaching staff," said Hawes. "He brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our group. The finer points of the game that he will be able to teach our players is going to be incredibly valuable."
Earlier in the week, the Kings acquired the rights to 20-year-old defenceman Sol Seibel from the Salmon Arm Silverbacks in a deal for future considerations. Seibel was captain of the Silverbacks last season and has played 135 BCHL games. The Kamloops native played two seasons with the Vernon Vipers before joining the Silverbacks in 2017. He had 13 assists and 72 penalty minutes in 43 games last season for Salmon Arm.
The Kings have also traded 18-year-old forward Sean Donaldson to the Nanaimo Clippers for futures. Donaldson was added to the Kings roster last year in a trade from the Trail Smoke Eaters 13 games int the season. He picked up four goals and eight ponts in 37 regular season games for the Kings and also drew an assist in 17 games of playoff action.
“Sean is a good kid and a good player who just wasn’t able to reach his full potential with us because our team last season was deep and he didn’t get enough of an opportunity," said Hawes. "He will get that opportunity in Nanaimo and I wish him nothing but success with his new team.”
The Kings' training camp starts on Thursday, Aug. 22.
