The Powell River Kings are the only BC Hockey League team other than the Merritt Centennials to not make the playoffs. For the Kings, they missed out on the Fred Page Cup marathon for the first time in 21 years.
The Kings have two players in forward Matt D’Agostino and defender Jason Marsella committed to NCAA Division I schools, while netminder Matthias Smith is off to play NCAA Division III hockey at the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point. Meanwhile, five other Kings’ players have aged out of junior.
Powell River’s general manager Chad Van Diemen and head coach Brock Sawyer have 11 players eligible to return up front, seven on the blueline, and two in goal.
These numbers will likely change as players move to other leagues like the Western Hockey League, US Hockey League, or North American Hockey League. They may drop down to junior B, be sent away in trades, retire, or wind up committing to college before September and don’t return to their BCHL clubs.
The depth chart is based on the league going with a 24-player roster next season and coaches going with 14 forwards, eight defenders, and two goaltenders.
Graduating players
Matt D’Agostino (Clarkson University)
Jason Marsella (Yale University)
Matthias Smith (University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point)
Nolan Krogfoss (aged out)
Caleb Parkhouse (aged out)
Dylan Finlay (aged out)
Olivier Lepine (aged out)
Zach Gabruch (aged out)
Eligible returnees (* indicates an open spot – assuming the team goes with 14 forwards and eight defenders)
Forwards
Hunter Andrew (02)
Nic Porchetta (02)
Ethan Riesterer (03)
Kaleb Nelson (03)
Aaron Neal (03)
Maxim Potvin (03)
Anthony Lucarelli (03)
Owen Barrow (03)
Branen Toye (03)
Karter McNarland (03)
Parker Lalonde (04)
*
*
*
Defenders
Nathan Small (02)
Dylan Hewlett (02)
Matthew Yakubowski (02)
Casey Aman (03)
Lucas Bourdon (03)
Sam Belanger (04)
*
*
Goaltenders
Thomas Wardle (02)
Zak Brice (03)