Hayward traded to Spruce Kings

The Prince George Spruce Kings have added a new offensive weapon.

They’ve picked up left winger Blake Hayward, a 19-year-old Union College recruit in a trade from the Coquitlam Express for the rights to 20-year-old forward Nick Holowko.

Hayward is a B.C. Hockey League veteran with 107 regular season and four playoff games of league experience playing for the Express.

In 51 games last season for Coquitlam the six-foot-one, 200-pound native of Vancouver collected eight goals and 21 assists for 29 points, with 34 minutes in penalties.

“Blake is a veteran BCHL player who brings a great skill set to our team,” said Spruce Kings general manager Mike Hawes.

“He also plays with an edge which will be a nice addition to the group. He will be leaned heavily upon to help provide leadership on and off the ice.”

He started this season in the USHL playing for the Lincoln (Neb.) Stars. After six games with the Stars he returned to Express but had not played for Coquitlam.

Hayward has been on Hockey Canada’s radar, twice suiting up for Canada West at the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge. He’s committed to Union starting next season.

Holowko played 208 games in the WHL for the Kamloops Blazers, Prince Albert Raiders and Seattle Thunderbirds.

He had three goals and an assists in seven games this season before he was released by the Blazers at the WHL overager roster deadline Oct. 10.

Each season BCHL teams are allowed to protect the rights to one 19- or 20-year-old major junior player and Holowko was on the Spruce Kings’ list.

Hayward will meet up with his new teammates this weekend when the Spruce Kings play in Trail, Wenatchee and West Kelowna.

The Kings also announced Wednesday they’ve sent winger Reid Perepeluk to the Kamloops Storm of the Kootenay International Junior (B ) Hockey League. Perepeluk joined the Kings two weeks ago from the WHL Cougars.