“The players and coaches are chomping at the bit,”: Spruce Kings GM on BCHL relaunch

Even though puck drop is still two weeks away, the anticipation is slowly building for the Prince George Spruce Kings as they get set for a shortened BCHL season.

The Spruce Kings are heading down to Chilliwack to play in one of the five “pod” locations approved by the Provincial Health Office last week, where they will face off against the Chiefs and most likely the Merritt Centennials.

General Manager, Mike Hawes spoke with MyPGNow.com the team is going through the final steps of its preparation period before heading on the road.

“The team is in quarantine right now until the 28th and we have a day of COVID testing as we come out of quarantine and then we will be heading down to Chilliwack on the 30th.”

Hawes added the team has been gearing up for a return to game action since the extended exhibition schedule was halted in November.

“I would say that our players and coaches are more ready to play games than they have ever been as far as concepts and the plays and the systems we are going to run during games. They have worked on those over the last several months at nauseam.”

“There were many times where we thought we might get to a point where we were able to play games so they were always preparing to play. To be honest with you, despite the fact we haven’t had a typical training camp like we would in any other year. This year we have had a four or five-month training camp.”

“I know the players and the coaches are chomping at the bit to get after it,’ Hawes mentioned.

As for what is on the horizon for the 2021-22 BCHL season, Hawes and the rest of the league staff are aiming for a “normal” regular season, providing vaccination and case counts head in the right direction.

“The plan right now is that we are going to have a normal regular season, game-wise, and be able to travel in September. How many fans will be allowed into the building is up in the air and yet to be determined.”

“That’s the way we are planning, that’s the way the league and the teams have to plan and if something changes in that regard as we move forward, then we will deal with it as we did this year,” mentioned Hawes.

The Langley Rivermen opted out of the restart while the Wenatchee Wild were unable to participate in the Junior A league this year due to the border closure.