The Surrey Eagles, Powell River Kings, and Prince George Spruce Kings connected on what amounts to essentially a three-way trade to jumpstart the BC Hockey League off-season on Tuesday.
First, the Eagles sent 2002-born Ian Kern to Powell River to complete future considerations from a Feb. 25 transaction. That deal saw Kern go from the Kings to Surrey.
Then, Powell River shipped Kern to the Prince George Spruce Kings for 2001-born defenseman Zach Gabruch and future considerations.
During the pod season with Surrey, Kern had four assists in 13 games. He was a rookie in the BCHL in 2019-20 and posted a goal and five points in 54 games for Powell River.
The Vancouverite is a product of the Greater Vancouver Canadians U18 AAA, where he had three goals and 22 points in 76 games over the course of two seasons from 2017-19.
He got into four regular season games and two playoff games with Powell River as a 16-year-old affiliate player in 2018-19.
Gabruch is a product of Saskatoon, SK who is entering his third season of junior hockey. He had a goal and an assist in 16 Chilliwack pod games for the Spruce Kings this past season.
As an 18-year-old rookie in 2019-20, he posted a goal and five points in 56 games with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks.
He was acquired by Prince George from the Wellington Dukes of the Ontario Junior Hockey League last June.