A big defender has been added to Powell River Kings’ blueline for the team’s 2017/2018 BC Hockey League season.
At 6’4” and 205 pounds, Brenden Saether has size and BCHL experience. He played in 14 regular season and 13 playoff games last year with Surrey Eagles, including two game sevens.
Along with size, Kings head coach Tyler Kuntz said Saether, who is from Abbotsford, has mobility and the ability to succeed at the Junior A level.
“What I see is a big player with a long reach, a big stick, he’s mobile and can turn to get pucks,” said Kuntz, of his new stay-at-home defender. “He’s extremely fit and a real worker, and off the ice he’s a great kid who is really hungry to get better.”
Kings also announced the commitment of 16-year-old forward Rowan Miller, who was born in Arizona, but is a longtime resident of Vernon.
Miller played last year with the South Island Royals in the BC Major Midget League, scoring 14 goals and 14 assists in 39 games. He also played as an affiliate in eight games with Vancouver Island Junior Hockey League’s Victoria Cougars, collecting two goals and two assists.
Miller can skate, has skill and is intelligent, according to Kuntz, who first saw his potential at the Kings’ development camp in Kamloops, which ended on May 13.
“We gave Rowan an information overload as to what our team wants to look like and how it wants to play,” said Kuntz. “He grasped things really quickly and showcased a lot of the things we’d discussed in the camp games.”
A third commitment announced by the Kings in only a week will bring a Buono back to the lineup for the 2018/2019 season.
Christian Buono, younger brother of former blueline stalwart Carmine Buono, who was in the green and gold jersey for 145 games and played out his eligibility with the Kings last season.
Christian is a 17-year-old forward who played last year with Vancouver Northwest Giants in the BC Major Midget League. He was the team’s leading scorer, top forward and MVP.
Christian also dressed for the Kings last year as an affiliate for four games and picked up two assists.
Since becoming head coach and general manager on May 1, Kuntz has signed Buono, Saether, Miller, forward Matt Fawcett and defender Ben Wozney.
