The Prince George Spruce Kings are excited to announce that they will be playing a neutral site game in the city of Smithers, BC. during the upcoming exhibition season. The Smithers Civic Centre will be the site of the team’s second exhibition game on September 2nd against their long-time rivals, the Quesnel Millionaires.
“This will be a really good game,” said Spruce Kings general manager and head coach, Ed Dempsey. “There is a lot of rivalry there and a lot of history for both clubs in Smithers. It’s a great opportunity to introduce our players to life on the road in the BCHL and the fans in Smithers will be treated to some great junior hockey.”
This marks the third consecutive season that the Spruce Kings will have played outside a BCHL city. In 2007 the Spruce Kings travelled to Grande Prairie for a pair of games against the Storm of the Alberta Junior Hockey League and last year it was a pair of games to christen the new EnCana Events Centre in Dawson Creek against the Burnaby Express.
Although this will be the first time the Spruce Kings have ever played in Smithers, there is a long list of alumni that have worn the crown to come from the base of Hudson Bay Mountain. Most recently was last year’s team captain and four-year alumni, Zach Davies.
The exhibition schedule starts in Prince George with the first game at the Coliseum on Tuesday September 1st at 7:00pm against the Quesnel Millionaires before shifting to Smithers the following night. The preseason wraps up with a home-at-home against the Williams Lake Timberwolves starting on Friday September 4th in Williams Lake and finishing up on Saturday at 7:00pm in the Coliseum.
