The Powell River Kings are proud to announce the opening night roster for the 2017/2018 season, beginning at the Hap Parker Arena on September 8th against the Victoria Grizzlies.
Goaltenders
33. Matteo Paler-Chow (1999, Vancouver BC)
Affiliated with the Kings last season and made his debut in Merritt against the Centennials. Paler-Chow came in relef and stopped 17 of 18 shots in 23:16 worth of work. Full time, Paler-Chow suited up for the Grandview Steelers in the PJHL (Junior B) and went 17-13-2 with a 2.35GAA and .917sv%.
35. Mitch Adamyk (1998, East St. Paul MB)
Was the apprentice to Brian Wilson last year and is set to take the reigns this season. Earned several high profile starts including both against Wenatchee, three against Victoria and four vs Nanaimo. Went 15-9-0 in 25 games last season with a 2.98GAA and .908sv%. Went in a run of six straight victories between December 30th and January 27th.
Defencemen
3. Ian Ross (1998, Surrey BC)
Played 51 games during his rookie season, scoring twice and adding 7 helpers. Before Powell River, Ross was a two-year player for the Valley West Hawks in the BC Major Midget League.
7. Nathan Kelly (2000, Delta BC)
Comes to the BCHL from the Greater Vancouver Canadians program in the BC Major Midget League. After an offensively timid 2 points in 33 games as a 15 year old, Kelly exploded last year by scoring twice and adding 33 assists in 35 games.
15. Carmine Buono (1997, Burnaby BC)
The third year King returned to Powell River for the back half of last season where he played in 18 games, scoring three and adding 8 assists. Continuing to irritate opponents with his style of play, Buono brings a wealth of experience to the Kings following a season and a half in college with UMass Amherst.
22. Jack Long (1999, Powell River BC)
Has 102 regular season games worth of experience and will celebrate his 18th birthday early in the season. Long has two goals to his name (plus another two in last years playoffs), with 15 assists during his career as a King.
24. Callum Volpe (1998, Coquitlam BC)
Joined the Kings early last season from the Vernon Vipers where he had spent his Junior career to date. Slotted nicely into a Kings D-core and chipped in 3 goals and 23 assists in 43 games, easily doubling his rookie output of 11 points. Comes equipped with a cannon of a shot.
27. Andy Stevens (1998, Campbell River BC)
With 112 games of BCHL regular season experience ahead of his 19 year old season, Stevens has rarely looked out of place in the BCHL. Even as a 17 year old, Stevens would get tough assignments in more games than most and excel more often than not. 5 goals throughout his 112 games. He’s one of five former Campbell River Storm players (Rauser, Raffler, Coblenz, Williams).
44. Ben Raffler (1998, Whistler BC)
Was a regular addition to the Kings roster last season, skating in 19 games for the Kings and assisting on 3 goals. Elsewhere, Raffler spent time with the Comox Valley Glacier Kings and the Campbell River Storm in the VIJHL.
Forwards
8. Gavin Rauser (1997, Campbell River BC)
The third year forward has trained extensively in the off-season, uprooting from his home in Campbell River to live full time in Nanaimo. Had an extended layoff with injury last season and is due to hit 100 games played in the league early this season. 19 goals and 38 points in 97 games played to date.
9. Carter Turnbull (1998, Nanaimo BC)
Turnbull’s second year in the league resulted in a 16 point increase in production from his rookie year and saw his 4th in team scoring. Earned a commitment to the University of Connecticut for next season, Turnbull is two away from 50 career BCHL goals and 100 career BCHL points (regular season).
11. Josh Coblenz (1998, Campbell River BC)
Scored his first BCHL goal as an affiliate in the 2015/2016 season, Coblenz added four more as a rookie last year. Had a lot of playoff experience with 36 career playoff games split between Powell River and Campbell River. A performer at that level as well with 20 points in those 36 games.
13. Jonny Evans (1998, Delta BC)
It was quite the year for Evans who finished 5th in league scoring (36-42-78), lead the Kings in points and earned a commitment to UCONN next season. Evans returns for his fourth full year as a King with 145 games played, 62 goals scored for 139 points. Started in Powell River as an affiliate in 2013/2014, scoring his first goal in Coquitlam on December 20th, 2013.
14. Josh Bruce (1998, Surrey BC)
Played 18 games with the Kings last season, scoring once and adding four assists. Brings WHL experience through Vancouver and Saskaton, and won a BC Major Midget League title in 2016 (with Ian Ross) as a member of the Valley West Hawks.
16. Trent Bell (1997, Parksville BC)
Jumps to the BCHL for his final Junior season after three with the VIJHL’s Nanaimo Buccaneers. Scored at just under a point per game through 130 regular season contests (69-60-129) and scored his season in his only game as a King in Nanaimo. Has extensive connections to the Kings through the North Island Silvertips and being a former team mate of Hunter Findlater, Carter Turnbull and alumni Curtis McCarrick.
17. Ben Berard (1999, Duncan BC)
Suited up 56 times last year for the Kings, scoring 13 goals and adding 18 assists. Prior to the Kings, Berard played in the BC Major Midget League for South Island (40 GP, 21-25-46) and at Shawnigan Lake Prep School (36 GP, 34-24-58). However it was his final season of bantam hockey in Cowichan that set record books on fire, totalling 239 points (122-117) in 62 games that season. Changes jersey number from 23 last year.
18. Kyle Kawamura (1999, Franklin TN)
Moves to the BCHL from the USHL in Lincoln and Shreveport. 17 games last year and two goals. Played U16 AAA hockey in Omaha where he scored 36 points in 20 games. Has a commitment to the University of Maine for post-Junior.
20. Hunter Findlater (1997 – Powell River BC)
Entering his fourth year as a King, Findlater has 17 goals, 17 assists and 34 points in 157 career regular season contests. Has been a career 1-for-1 scorer with 17 goals and 17 assists in Junior to match his 27 goals and 27 assists in Major Midget with the North Island Silvertips.
21. Kevin Obssuth (1997, Morristown NJ)
Was a member of the PAL Junior Islanders in the US Premier Hockey League for the last two years where he scored 23 goals and 62 points in 68 games. Obssuth was also a point per game player at the High School level with Delbarton in 2014/2015, scoring 28 points in 27 games. Committed to Canisius College in Buffalo for next season.
23. Nick Abbott (2000, Bonavista NL)
A former Ontario Hockey Academy player at the U17 level where Abbott tallied 40 goals and 77 points in 67 regular season games. He has also represented his home province of Newfoundland at the U14 and U16 levels where he scored 11 points in 9 games.
25. Mitch Williams (1998, Prince George BC)
Jumps to the BCHL for his 19 year old year after a season in Campbell River with the Storm. 28 games played, 16 goals and 23 assists. Brings BCHL experience as an affiliate player for Penticton (2 games), Nanaimo (1 game) and Surrey (6 games). Has experience playing in Powell River as well. Williams dressed for the Eagles during their game in Powell River in September 2016.
