Photo Courtesy: Garrett James

By Ethan Ready

NCAA Commitment

Spruce Kings announce John Herrington’s commitment to Lake Superior State

May 21, 2021 | 10:14 AM

PRINCE GEORGE – The Prince George Spruce Kings are thrilled to announce that forward John Herrington (’02) has committed to play NCAA Division 1 Hockey at Lake Superior State University in Sault Ste. Marie, Michigan.

The product of Hudson’s Hope finished the 2021 Pod Season with six goals and eight assists in 20 games played.

“With the shortened season and practices only for the most part of the year, being offered a scholarship was very unexpected,” admitted the former Cariboo Cougar. “It was a very exciting moment for me and my family and left us pretty speechless at first. I still don’t think it has totally sunk in yet.”

Lake Superior State is coming off a WCHA championship and earned a spot in the NCAA Frozen Four tournament this past season. Spruce Kings’ alumni Dustin Manz and Spencer DenBeste, as well as Prince George product Jeremy Gervais, are all members on the Lakers roster. Herrington says choosing Lake Superior State was an easy decision.

“Lake Superior has that small-town feeling where everyone starts to know everyone and growing up in a town of 1,000 people, it should feel like home.”

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The Northern BC product spent his midget hockey career with the Cariboo Cougars before joining the Spruce Kings, where Herrington was the captain of the Cats in 2019. During that very season, Herrington was listed as an affiliate player with the Spruce Kings. He joined the team full-time for the 2020-21 season.

Spruce Kings GM Mike Hawes and Head Coach Alex Evin say his hard work is paying off.

“Very excited for John,” stated Hawes in a release issued by the team. “He’s a northern BC player who has gone through the correct process. He affiliated with us during his last season of midget and then came in here the following season and worked hard on his development. This scholarship is very well deserved.”

“We are very proud of John Herrington, and he and his family are very deserving of this achievement,” said Evin. “Since joining our team as an affiliate player, we have witnessed Johnny work extremely hard to improve each and every day both on and off the ice.”

Although Herrington impressed with 14 points in the 20-game pod season, the 5’10 170-pound forward is still a couple of years away from College Hockey and knows that there is still lots of work to do.

“I think I have to not only become bigger, faster, and stronger but also working on protecting the puck and creating more space to make plays and get shots on net.”

Herrington and the Spruce Kings won the 2021 Chilliwack Pod, finishing with a 14-5-1 record. Herrington is excited for the upcoming years and the bright future ahead for the Spruce Kings.

“I’m very excited for next year to start, I think we have the guys that are willing to do what they have to do to win games and that is going to take us far next year.”