The Powell River Kings have committed to 1997-born forward and Powell River product, Hunter Findlater for the 2014/2015 season.
For Findlater, playing for the Kings is a dream come true. “This has been a goal for me since starting hockey in Powell River when I was a kid” says Findlater. “I’m really excited to get going with the team and I’m really looking forward to camp.”
Over the past two seasons, Findlater has played for the BC Major Midget League’s North Island Silvertips. Last year, Findlater was a point per game, scoring 20 goals and 20 assists in 40 regular season contests. The Nanaimo-based Silvertips missed the BCMML playoffs, but the 40 points put Findlater at the top of team scoring, and 28th overall in the league.
Aside from his Powell River roots, Findlater is hardly a stranger to the Kings organization, as the 5’10, 170lb winger played 11 games with the Kings last season, including an extended stint in the playoffs. “Everything in the playoffs is so fast and physical, and I think that experience last year will really help me out this season” says Findlater, who generated a number of chances around opposition nets during the Kings’ playoff run. “I’m really happy with how I did in the playoffs, and was disappointed we couldn’t go further, but that experience is going to be huge for me this year.”
“We’ve been following him for the last couple of years, and he obviously AP’d with us last year and played quite well in our games” says Kings Head Coach and GM Kent Lewis. “We felt as an AP he was a good part of our club last year and we’re happy to have him this season.” Lewis adds that he’s happy though to add a player to the Kings roster with an intimate knowledge of the team. “He knows what we’re about. He’s familiar with the program, he’s seen it from the inside out from both playing with us last year, and being around it since he was a kid.”
Findlater will spend the summer in Powell River, getting ready for camp in late August. “I want to try and get bigger and stronger, be harder to knock off the puck” says Findlater. “His speed is what’s going to help him make the transition from Major Midget to Junior A” says Lewis. It’s a view shared by Findlater, “I also want to try and get faster…just make sure I’m ready to go for camp.”
The Powell River Kings Main Camp begins in late August, with the season opening up at the BCHL Showcase in Chilliwack, September 19-21.
