Photo Courtesy: Garrett James

By Ethan Ready

Graduating Season

Worth the Waite: Spruce Kings captain reflects back on whirlwind year

May 12, 2021 | 6:04 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – From battling a cancer diagnosis last year to being named team captain; waiting for news on whether there would even be a season, to finishing on top of the Chilliwack pod, the year was nothing short of obstacles and learning experiences for Prince George Spruce Kings’ Mason Waite.

“It was unique for sure. It was a grind,” admitted the 21-year-old reflecting back on the shortened season down in Chilliwack. “Not sleeping in your own bed for 40 nights. How condensed the schedule was definitely tough. We saw a lot of injuries and (some) guys, unfortunately, didn’t make it through. It was unique. Not a lot of people can say they’ve experienced something like that.”

Through the 20 game pod season in Chilliwack, Waite finished 2nd on the Spruce Kings in points with 19 and led the team in assists with 15.

The Spruce Kings completed the season with a 14-5-0-1 record, having a 3-point edge over the Chilliwack Chiefs following a 4-2 score in the final game of the season.

“The personal points are definitely nice to have on the side, but I’m really happy we finished on top out of those three teams in the pod. I got a couple of lucky assists and some lucky goals, I’ll take it, but I’m glad we won.”

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Waite will now take the next step of his hockey career. Having committed to play for St Lawrence University in the NCAA Division 1 ranks, the next time he steps onto the ice it will be a member of the Saints in Canton, New York.

“I’m looking forward to having fans back in the buildings. Fingers crossed they’ll be back. The college atmosphere is pretty neat. The BCHL is a super-fast league and hopefully, it gave me the skills required to get up there and still be successful at the next level.”

Waite is one of five graduating players from the Spruce Kings this year. Tanner Main, Hunor Torzsok, Christian Buono, and Andrew Seaman round out the graduating class.