MacDonald sticking with Spruce Kings

Craig MacDonald isn’t going to have to go far to find his junior hockey home next season.

He’ll be playing for his hometown Prince George Spruce Kings.

The B.C. Hockey League club announced Thursday they’ve signed the 17-year-old forward to play for the Kings in the 2018-19 season. His abilities as a playmaker this season as a member of the Cariboo Cougar major midget team have impressed Kings management. In 20 games, the five-foot-nine, 170-pound MacDonald has nine goals and 19 assists for 25 points.

He joined the Cariboo Cats in August, after helping the Coast Inn of the North midget Tier 1 Cougars win back-to-back provincial championships.

“We’re thrilled to announce the commitment of Craig to our program,” said Spruce Kings general manager Mike Hawes, in a team release.

“He is a tremendous young man from a great family and has great core values that are in line with what we expect from a Spruce Kings player. On the ice, he is a terrific skater and a student of the game. He will fit in well with our players that will be returning next season and will thrive in the systems and up-tempo style of play that we like to utilize.”

MacDonald has been practicing with the Spruce Kings this week and will get a chance to utilize his talents this weekend in action against the Alberni Valley Bulldogs and Wenatchee Wild. The Kings younger forwards should see additional icetime with top-line forwards Ethan de Jong and Kyle Johnson both in Truro, N.S., playing for Team Canada West in the World Junior A Challenge.

MacDonald has already played two games with the Spruce Kings earlier this season as an affiliate player.