Leaders among Kings.
The Prince George Spruce Kings will have plenty of them with head coach Ed Johnstone going with a captain and five alternates this season.
Leading the way will be second year defenceman Tyler Loney. While the alternate will changed depending on the colour of jersey. When the Kings are at home Keenan Hopson, Tyler Scofield and Casey Hogue will wear the A’s while the road Hopson, Matt Shuya and Jeff Martens will wear the A’s.
“Like Ed said it’s an honour to be a captain or alternate captain. It’s a great honour to be wearing the C,” said Loney who will be physical presence on the blue line this season.
The Kings opened the season with a win in Vernon and they seem to be looking at the positives this year.
“I talk in the dressing room and on the bench. It’s a great group of guys here. We have some good chemistry and that helps us work together. We’re having fun. Before we step on to the ice for practice or a game Ed and Tom [Bohmer] tell us to go and have fun. We go and work but it’s also fun,” said Loney who was also the captain of his Midget AAA team in Fort St. James in his final season of midget.
Hopson will wear an A both at home and away. For the 20-year-old former defenceman turned forward he’s looking forward to the challenge of being a leader. He’s hoping having played on the blue line for most of last season will help him with being a centre this season and also playing the point on the power play.
“I’m more of leader by example. I’m not really that vocal and I’ll have to work on that. As a 20 year old, I’m older,” said Hopson. “I’m playing centre so I’ll be down low a lot. And I’ll be able to read the play and help out with the defence as well.”
BCHL rules allow for a captain and three alternates per team. The Kings will have a different group of leaders at home and away on the jerseys but the leader can’t be taken out of the players with the change of the jersey.
As a second year forward Shuya is accepting the challenge of an assistant with open arms.
“Things are going good right now. We’re really excited about this season,” said Shuya who is quite vocal both on the bench and in the dressing room. “I talk on the bench and in the room and keep the guys up and things like that. And just work hard.”
