The Prince George Spruce Kings head into the weekend for B.C. Hockey League games at home against Trail and Alberni Valley with two new players on the roster.
Earlier this week the Kings made a deal with the Lloydminster Bobcats of the Alberta Junior Hockey League to acquire defenceman Mason Waite in exchange for forward Mack Stewart.
Waite, a 19-year-old from Winnipeg, played 55 games last season for the Bobcats and produced five goals and 19 assists. He stated this season in the NAHL with the Jamestown Rebels.
"Mason is a mobile defenseman with good size who plays in all situations," said Kings general manager Mike Hawes, in a team release. "He is dependable defensively while being able to contribute offensively."
Stewart, joined the Kings in the off-season. The 17-year-old winger from Austria, who now makes his home in Calgary, was held without a point in five games BCHL games.
The Kings also acquired forward Kolton Cousins in a trade from the Cowichan Valley Capitals which sent 20-year-old defenceman Nolan Barrett to Duncan.
Cousins, an 18-year-old who played minor hockey at Delta Hockey Academy, scored five goals and had six assists in 55 regular season games last year for the Capitals. The five-foot-seven, 181-pound Sechelt native also had a goal and four assists in 12 playoff games with the Caps.
"Kolton is very hardworking forward who will also contribute in both ends while adding a lot of spark to our lineup," said Hawes.
Barrett, a 20-year-old Merrimack College recruit for 2020-21, had 16 penalty minutes in seven games this season with the Spruce Kings.
Coming off a three-game trip last weekend that resulted in a win and two losses, the Spruce Kings (2-3-2, third in Mainland Division) will host the Trail Smoke Eaters (2-5-1) Friday night at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena.
The Smokies will be bringing BCHL player-of-the-week Kent Johnson, who had five assists in a 5-1 win Friday over West Kelowna. Johnson, who turns 17 on Oct. 18, now has three goals and eight assists for 11 points, one point behind league scoring leaders Levi Glasman of the Powell River Kings) and Noah Wakeford of the Salmon Arm Silverbacks.
On Saturday, the Alberni Valley Bulldogs visit the Spruce Kings.
