PRINCE GEORGE BC – The Prince George Spruce Kings are excited to announce their leadership group for 2020-21, including 20-year-old defenceman Mason Waite who has been named team captain.
Waite is joined by Corey Cunningham and Kolton Cousins as the assistant captains with the rest of the leadership group to be named once the pre-season concludes. Waite, Cunningham, and Cousins combine for 306 BCHL regular season games played, as well as 57 playoff games played.
Waite, 20, who is committed to St. Lawrence University in 2021-22, was acquired by the Spruce Kings in September of 2019, and has been a massive piece to the Spruce Kings success. Waite finished the 2019-20 campaign with 7 goals (led all Spruce Kings defenceman) and 22 assists in 51 games played. It has been a whirlwind of a 2020 for the Winnipeg product. Waite beat Testicular Cancer after he was diagnosed in early April, he then committed to St. Lawrence University in the summer, and has now been named the captain of the Prince George Spruce Kings.
PHOTO – Garrett James
“We have such an experienced group of guys, so to be named the Captain is very humbling and a true honour. Corey and Kolton are great guys and I’m super happy for them as well. With all of the veteran presence that we have, I think the leadership runs from top to bottom on this team and we are super excited to get the regular season started.” – Mason Waite
Cunningham, 19, who is committed to Merrimack College, brings oodles of BCHL experience, now heading into his 4th season with the Spruce Kings. The 2019 Fred Page Cup and Doyle Cup champion has played 140 BCHL games and 37 playoff games. The Prince George product also has tallied 14 playoff points in those 37 games. 10 of those points came in the 2018-19 championship season. Cunningham also led the 2019-20 Spruce Kings in goals with 26.
PHOTO – Garrett James
“I am humbled and honoured to be a part of the leadership group. I have been a part of this organization for a while and to now be a leader is extremely exciting. Mason is a great leader on and off the ice and he brings intensity and encouragement to all of the guys”. – Corey Cunningham
PHOTO – Damon James
Cousins, 19, also brings a ton of BCHL experience to the Spruce Kings lineup. Cousins has made an immediate impact on and off the ice ever since he has been acquired by the club which came back in September of 2019. Cousins has also passed the century mark plateau for games played in the BCHL. The Sechelt product has 115 games played combined with the Spruce Kings and the Cowichan Valley Capitals.
PHOTO: Garrett James
“To be recognized as one of the leaders for the Prince George Spruce Kings is an honour. It’s an absolute privilege to be able to wake up every day and have the opportunity to throw on the Spruce Kings jersey. I am excited to be able to show guys what it takes to be a Spruce King and to lead by example, both on and off the ice. Waiter is a guy who shows up ready to work and makes his teammates better every day. The way he has dealt with adversity, both in life and in Hockey, is truly inspiring. He is going to be an amazing captain and will be a great person to represent the city of Prince George and the Spruce Kings.” – Kolton Cousins
PHOTO: Damon James
The Spruce Kings pre-season schedule continues this weekend as they head to the Kootenay’s for three games in three days. Prince George has a Friday and Saturday affair with the Cranbrook Bucks, both scheduled for 6:00 PM PST start on Friday, and 3:00 PM PST on Saturday. It will then be another matinee on Sunday at 3:00 PM against the Trail Smoke Eaters. You can catch all of the action on BCHL TV powered by HockeyTV.
