Two hometown boys are back wearing the green and gold Powell River Kings jerseys for the 2016/2017 BC Hockey League (BCHL) season. Forward Hunter Findlater and defenceman Jack Long return to a team that has high expectations this season.
Kings coach and general manager Kent Lewis openly said during training camp that it is time the team sets its sights on being the best in the country.
“I think it’s about time, too,” said Findlater. “There’s been lots of second-place finishes and getting as close as we can. Hopefully we can bring it home this year. We have a really good group.”
When the Kings were beaten in four straight games by Nanaimo Clippers in round two of BCHL playoffs last season, Long was a 16-year-old rookie.
“I was just kind of here soaking everything up and learning,” said Long. “It wasn’t the end of the world for me to go out in the playoffs. It would have been nice to keep going, but I have a lot more years ahead to go farther and farther.”
Last season, Long played 51 regular season games and recorded two goals and eight assists. According to Kings assistant coach Brock Sawyer, Long is still the team’s youngest player.
Sawyer said he assesses Long as a player who skates very well and, for a young defensemen with his size, is very physical.
“He’s moulding into a solid, steady Junior-A defenceman with the upside of playing at the next level with his skating ability and physicality,” said Sawyer. “His decision-making and offensive instincts are very good and defensively he’s only getting better.”
According to Long, who was awarded the crowd favourite award for last season at the Kings annual banquet in March, part of being a better player is assuming more leadership with the team. If the Kings plan to go on a deep playoff run in 2017, he said he will have to shoulder a bigger responsibility.
“I think I have a bigger role,” said Long. “I’m still one of the younger guys on the team, but I have a year under my belt. I’ll still play the same way, maybe just a little more leadership around the rookies.”
Long said he thinks the Kings will be good if they can move the puck quickly to a fast group of forwards.
Speed is something Findlater is known for and, according to the third-year forward, an area he has been working on to become even faster.
“Speed was one of my big things to work on over the offseason, especially because we don’t have ice here then,” said Findlater. “It’s kind of hard to get back into it right away. I’ve done pretty well to get my speed back up by running.”
Last year, Findlater played 52 games, scored five goals and added five assists. One year earlier, he managed three goals and four assists in 49 games.
“Hunter is an outstanding skater; he’s full of speed,” said Sawyer. “He generates a lot of opportunities with it.”
Entering his third year with the club, Findlater has become a more reliable and consistent player, said Sawyer.
“I’m trying to contribute more offensively and work on my defensive zone, too, but I can put up more numbers,” said Findlater. “I felt a lot better last season. I meshed better with the group.”
