As chillier weather invades Prince George, hockey players are making their way back to the rink.
The Spruce Kings are back at the Coliseum on Monday to kick off training camp.
The team saw a strong improvement last year, finishing 2nd in the BCHL Mainland Division, and pushing through to the elusive second round of playoffs before being sent home.
Communications Director Ryan Lepper says last year’s progress may be the spark for something bigger.
“I’ve talked to players who went on the run last year and all of them were saying how one of their best experiences in hockey was that game 6 in Prince George, winning at home to move on to the second round. You can definitely tell they want to repeat that, they want that feeling again.”
The organization is raising its expectations, and the team will have to work hard to form an identity.
“It looks like the team has a lot of big defencemen coming back, a lot of guys with experience on the back end,” says Lepper, “The forwards look like a good young group that looks like they’re going to be pretty fast, and hardworking… Quite a few two-way players out there.”
The Spruce Kings will play their first pre-season game this Friday when they host the Merritt Centennials.