Powell River Kings have traded 2002-born forward Nic Porchetta to West Kelowna Warriors in exchange for 2003-born forward Alexi Van Houtte-Cachero.
Porchetta is in the midst of his fourth and final season of junior hockey, all of which have been with his hometown Kings. The 20-year-old winger has appeared in 129 BC Hockey League (BCHL) games over his tenure, scoring 25 goals and adding 30 assists.
“We’d like to thank Nic for his contributions to our organization on and off the ice,” stated Kings’ general manager Chad van Diemen. “He’s been a big part of our program for the past three and a half seasons and we want to wish him all the best in the coming months to finish off his junior hockey career.”
Porchetta suited up in 18 games for Powell River during the 2022/2023 season, scoring seven times and adding 10 assists.
Van Houtte-Cachero, who is from Pointe-Claire, Quebec, is in his second BCHL campaign. Over 81 games, he has collected 21 goals and 32 assists, including five goals and 11 assists in 29 games this season.
“We are excited to be able to add Alexi to our lineup,” added van Diemen. “We feel he can come in and help our group right away on the ice but also as a veteran voice in the dressing room. He has played in over 100 junior games, brings leadership and is capable of contributing at both ends of the rink.”
Van Houtte-Cachero is committed to play NCAA hockey at University of Nebraska-Omaha and is also former teammates with current Kings’ forward Adam Mendelson in midget AAA with Lac St-Louis Lions.
Kings returned to action on December 30 after a 13-day, BCHL-wide holiday season break. The restart began at the same venue as their last game, Q Centre in Victoria, where the team suffered a 5-1 loss to the Grizzlies on December 17.
Kings were handed a similar fate by the hosts. Grizzlies scored once in each of the first two periods and added a pair of insurance goals in the final 20 minutes to win 4-1. Karter McNarland and Jack Blanchett combined to set up the lone Powell River goal, the sixth of the BCHL season for Cameron Symons, at 13:08 of the first period, cancelling out the game’s opening goal, which came on a power play and put Victoria ahead 1-0.
Both teams had six power plays in the game. Powell River went 0-6 with the extra skater while Victoria was successful on a pair of occasions.
Grizzlies outshot the Kings 32-31. Attendance was 1,313.
For the second time in 24 hours, Powell River Kings gave up four goals in a loss, this time in Port Alberni on New Year’s Eve.
Kings led on two occasions, with goals from Carter Lundie in the first period and Anthony Yu in the middle stanza. Alberni responded shortly after falling behind to tie the game prior to each intermission, then added the game-winning goal early in the third period and an empty-netter in the final second for a 4-2 win.
Maxim Potvin and Sam Belanger picked up assists for the Kings, who were outshot 37-30. Attendance at Alberni Valley Multiplex was 1,396.
Powell River lost 4-1 in Victoria the night before.
Kings are at home this weekend to begin the 2023 calendar. On Friday, January 6, Wenatchee Wild visits, then on Saturday, January 7, Cowichan Valley Capitals provide the opposition at Hap Parker Arena. Both games are scheduled to start at 7 pm. Van Houtte-Cachero is expected to be in the lineup
