Spruce Kings mourn the loss of longtime Equipment Manager

A familiar face with the Prince George Spruce Kings has died.

Volunteer Equipment Manager Malcolm Poburan passed away today after spending nearly 40 years with the Junior A club.

His contribution to the team won’t be forgotten.

“He did a tremendous, tremendous job for the team for so many years and definitely a sad day for the Spruce Kings. I’ve been with the team 13 years now and have very fond memories of coming into the rink over the years and one of the first faces I would see would be Malcolm’s,” says Mike Hawes, Spruce Kings General Manager.

“He and I would sit and have a little chat on days over coffee and just talk about the old days and what was going on with the team and he was apart of the Spruce Kings organization for a long, long time and he’s certainly going to be missed.”

Hawes adds Poburan was well-respected by everyone he came in contact with during his time with the hockey team.

“He was so witty and had such great rapport with the players and had a great relationship with everybody who came into the organization loved Malcolm and loved the way he joked around and the way he kept everything loose. You need to have that if you want to have any success as a team and Malcolm provided that.”

Poburan’s most recognizable nickname was “Relic” and Hawes is of the opinion the witty equipment manager picked up a few other endearing names along the way.

“He had so many different nicknames like Relic and some of the guys called him goo and where his original nickname came from I’m not sure as it was before my time but I think when you spend that many years with a hockey team you’re going to be called many things over the years as I’m sure he called people many things and he would have been called many things as well because that’s just the type of guy he was.”

He was living his final day at the Hospice House due to a lengthy illness.

The Spruce Kings plan to honor him next season.