‘Easy to talk to’, ‘always willing to lend an ear’ and ‘a terrific friend and teammate,’ are just a few of the ways the Prince George Spruce Kings GM Mike Hawes remembers Chad Staley.
To honor the former captain, the team will be wearing his initials on their helmets for every game this season.
Staley passed away unexpectedly at the age of 25 in March.
“It’s just our small way for us to honor such a good person and Spruce Kings captain,” said Hawes.
Staley played with the Spruce Kings from 2012-15, recording 60 goals, 87 assists in 173 regular-season matchups, and 14 points in 21 post-season games.
The Kennewick, Washington forward was named captain in 2015, before moving on to collegiate hockey.
During his stint at the University of Alaska-Fairbanks, he collected 55 points in 127 games.
“He was a great friend for all players, staff, and was a great person and teammate. That’s more important than being a good hockey player,” Hawes added.
“Chad was just a tremendous human being.”
Hawes says Staley’s final season in a Spruce Kings uniform was particularly memorable.
“2015 was kinda the first year we broke through in the playoffs,” recalled Hawes. “We beat Langley in the first round that year, and Chad was a huge part of that.”
Grieving under normal circumstances is already hard, Hawes explained, but Covid-19 has added an extra layer of difficulty.
“We are all going through tough times right now with what’s going on in the world,” he said. “Then you add something like this into it, it certainly makes it that much more difficult.”
The Spruce Kings organization is proud to honour our former Captain and three year Spruce King Chad Staley this season.
Our players will wear Chad’s initials on our helmets this season. Chad was the ultimate teammate and friend. ❤️?#RIP22 | #TrueBlue pic.twitter.com/BeHLlaxOWs
— Prince George Spruce Kings (@SpruceKings) September 29, 2020