Powell River Kings are busy building the kind of team that fits with the team management’s hockey strategy and philosophy.
Team president Stephan Seeger Sr. said last year, when the Birch Group took over management of the hockey club after the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) blocked the sale of the team, the management group came in late after the season had started.
“The team was, for the most part, selected already,” said Seeger Sr.. “When [coach and general manager] Glenn [Anderson] came aboard, obviously there were strategy changes and system changes that were put in place.
“So that’s the sort of disadvantage when you’re going into the season halfway through. This year has a completely different backdrop. We’ve had the opportunity to start with some new players as well as some guys from last year who will be returning this year.”
Seeger said the team started recruiting as early as January and February, and intense efforts began at the end of spring. He gave credit to Anderson and assistant general manager Stephan Seeger Jr., who have worked tirelessly trying to find players who are commensurate with the type of player required to match the system Anderson espouses.
The Kings’ rebuild has started from the back end. Seeger Sr. said the goal is to ice a team that is entertaining for the Powell River fans, and difficult for the opposition.
“We want to make this a hard place to play,” said Seeger Sr.. “Last season, we had the second youngest team in the league. We’ve been striving for a bit more mature and older approach as compared to last year, when we were quite young.”
Seeger Sr. said the team has an impressive defensive core.
“In terms of our defence, our common theme is size and strength, and a D core that can also skate. Our smallest defenceman is about six foot, two [inches] in size.”
Seeger Sr. said the team wants players like Henryk Lasky, who last season laid out three of the biggest hits in the BCHL, along with Willem Terwoord and Wyatt Davis, who are also sizable.
“They are the kind of models we’re looking for in terms of adding players.”
New signings include players such as Sam Grabner, a 20-year-old, who has more that 100 junior hockey games to his credit, including being a Centennial Cup champion, winning the Canadian Junior A title in 2023 with Ottawa Junior Senators.
“This is the kind of player we want to add to our locker room,” said Seeger Sr.. “It goes in the direction of having maturity and having what it takes to win.”
Familiar faces
Seeger Sr.said up front, there is a contingent of returning players, such as left winger Christian Maro.
“We’re really going to rely on him,” said Seeger Sr.. “He was an excellent producer and was always in the play.”
Other returning forwards include Ryan Arnold, Thomas Belzil and Jace Harder. There are also returns from the team’s young base last year.
“I think they are ready; they are no longer rookies and have experience under their belts,” said Seeger Sr.. “In the future, as long as they are doing their jobs and they learn from the experiences, they are going to be great contributors as well.
“Our job is to complement the returning guys with some more experienced firepower. We feel the team that we are putting together here is very different from last year’s team, and we’re hoping to perform far better than we did last year.”
Seeger Sr. said having Anderson in a coaching and management role has made it easier to reach out to players’ agents.
“We’re far better prepared with depth, size and strength that we feel we needed, based on last year’s experience, particularly in the playoffs, to move further along and give the fans something much more consistent to cheer about,” said Seeger Sr.. “We’ve got a good bunch of guys and I believe the product on the ice will be very different and exciting. We wanted to make sure the product is really consistent with the system and the game strategy we have with Glenn. He’s a hockey hall of fame guy with six Stanley Cups.”
Assistant advantage
Seeger Sr. said the addition of assistant coaches Chris Klack and Michael McNiven will also be an advantage for the team, with both coaches having extensive hockey experience. They have known each other for years and played minor hockey together.
“Kings management and coach Anderson worked diligently since the end of the season to ensure experienced and capable bench staff to complement exciting changes in systems and our global player profile,” said Seeger Sr.. “We are proud to welcome both Michael and Chris to the Powell River Kings community and look forward to their respective team contributions immediately. It’s going to be a different profile on the bench this year.”
Returning this year will be former NHLer Cliff Ronning, who will continue with skills development for the players. In addition to great hockey skills, Seeger Sr. said it is the Kings’ aim to help mould the players into great gentlemen.
“Not everybody makes the NHL but everyone can contribute to hockey,” said Seeger Sr.. “One of the things we have as part of the Kings’ model is that we hope we can build as many gentlemen as we can, who will serve their communities one day.”
Seeger Sr. said the management team has a great working relationship with Powell River Kings Society, which supports the Kings economically, and is making sure the team stays in Powell River.
“I’ve said it many times that the Birch Group has no interest whatsoever in talking about moving the team or folding the team,” said Seeger Sr. “Our model is that we are here to stay and to do what we have to do to make that happen.
“We’ll hopefully finalize the arena lease and we’re working diligently on that with people from the City of Powell River. Everything is getting more expensive but we have great faith in the relationship between the Kings’ society and the city to put something together that keeps the team in Powell River long term.”
When asked if the Birch Group would like to ultimately own the Kings, Seeger Sr. said the work group has always had that on the table.
“We’re trying to show the league we can be good partners,” he added, “so we’re looking forward to continuing that endeavour.”
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