Kozlowski joining Kings

The Prince George Spruce Kings will have a new face in the lineup when they open the B.C. Hockey League regular season on Friday night at Rolling Mix Concrete Arena.

On Tuesday, the Spruce Kings announced the acquisition of forward Sam Kozlowski. The Kings picked up the veteran skater from the Coquitlam Express in exchange for the Canadian Junior Hockey League rights to forward Ethan O’Rourke, as well as future considerations. O’Rourke – a Penticton product who played 57 games for the crosstown Prince George Cougars of the Western Hockey League – divided his time last season between the Cougars and Everett Silvertips (37 games with Prince George, 29 with Everett). In 2016-17, he appeared in 19 contests for the Kings.

As for the 20-year-old Kozlowski, he’s entering his third BCHL season. The Delta native scored eight goals last season and added 22 assists in 55 games. In his BCHL career thus far, he has 19 goals and 33 helpers in 107 games.

Kozlowski has college hockey in his future, as he is committed to the Rochester Institute of Technology Tigers for 20192020.

Kozlowski will be in uniform on Friday when the Spruce Kings take on the Chilliwack Chiefs (7 p.m. faceoff). The Kings – Mainland Division regular season and playoff champions last season, and also Coastal Conference playoff champs – will hold a bannerraising ceremony before the puck drops.

The Chiefs hosted and won the RBC Royal Bank Cup national championship tournament in May.

The teams will also clash on Saturday night.