Following the Christmas break, the Powell River Peak (a local newspaper) runs a Kings feature in a January edition to highlight some of the key storylines of the year thus far and to check in with Kings Head Coach and GM Kent Lewis for a brief Q&A. This year the Peak featured a pair of King alumni returning to coach with the franchise, the team’s two Canada West gold medalists as well as a look at the roster so far with Kent Lewis.
Alumni assistant coaching duo come full circle
Former players return to Kings in transition to coaching careers
by Alex Rawnsley | Peak Sports
In 2007, actor Bruce Campbell told viewers “experience is everything,” during an advertising campaign for Old Spice products. Powell River Kings have adopted a similar mantra for its new coaching staff by recruiting alumni who have been there and done that.
Brock Sawyer played with the Kings between 2007 and 2008 and joined the club as an assistant to head coach Kent Lewis before the 2014/2015 season. Sawyer added additional responsibilities this season and was recently joined by another King alumnus and former teammate Kyle Bodie, who called Powell River home from 2006 to 2009.
“I didn’t know when I was going to get involved with the Kings” said Bodie. “I was in Germany playing and when that wrapped up, I came back to Powell River. After talking to Brock I knew coaching was a possibility. This is home for me now. To be involved with a team that opened a lot of doors for my career is awesome.”
Sawyer and Bodie share similarities in their careers. Each played multiple years of junior hockey and moved on to college in New York for four years; Sawyer at Elmira College, Bodie at Union College. Both coaches enjoyed pro careers for a few seasons before hanging their skates up. The pair also shared a similar journey into the coaching ranks.
To read the rest of the story, click here.
Kings duo golden at world juniors
Players bring home ultimate prize from international tournament
by Alex Rawnsley | Peak Sports
It’s the dream of many young hockey players, to represent Canada on the international stage and win a gold medal. In December, that dream became a reality for Powell River Kings forwards Kyle Betts and Carter Turnbull.
At the junior level, the dream to wear the maple leaf comes to fruition through the annual World Junior A Challenge, pitting two Canadian teams, west and east, against teams from the United States, Russia and other European countries.
“The tournament and everything is such an amazing experience,” said Betts. “Anytime you get to wear the maple leaf, it’s amazing. I can’t say enough good things, and getting to do it with Turnbull was fantastic, too.”
To read the full story, click here.
Kings manager Kent Lewis assesses team mid-season
Streaks and slumps part of the ebb and flow of BC Hockey League schedule
by Alex Rawnsley | Peak Sports
The 2015/2016 season has been one of dramatic ups and downs for a Powell River Kings club currently in third place in BC Hockey League Island Division standings, behind Nanaimo and Cowichan Valley. A season-high seven-game winning streak near the beginning of the season was almost immediately followed by a six-game skid in September and October. Recently, four dramatic wins at home were followed by three disappointing losses away.
General manager and head coach Kent Lewis provided his thoughts on a personal milestone, the return of a familiar face between the pipes and the consistent inconsistency of a streaky Kings club this season.
To read the complete story, click here.
