By Nick Dube

Kazumo Sasaki leaves the Spruce Kings

Nov 25, 2025 | 5:19 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – The Prince George Spruce Kings are starting to adjust to life without Kazumo Sasaki. The BCHL’s leading scorer shocked everyone Monday with his decision to leave the Kings and take his talents to the Youngstown Phantoms of the US hockey league. With Sasaki heading to Lake Superior University in the NCAA for next season Kings General Manager Mike Hawes thinks the Japanese import felt the time was right to make the move though it left the Kings disappointed and looking for solutions.

“It was disappointing for sure. You know, Kaz was a player for us for almost three seasons, and he’s been here a long time. We had worked with Kaz and developed him into a into a good player that became an elite player in our league. So, it’s certainly disappointing anytime you lose a player like that but at the same time it opens up an opportunity for somebody else.” said Hawes.

Replacing the leagues leading scorer is no easy task and more then likely his production will have to be replaced by multiple players stepping up. Hawes says he is actively looking into all options to replace Sasaki.

“He’s a player that you can’t replace on your roster. There’s no doubt about it. I mean to go and get a player like Kaz right now is is next to impossible. So that being said , it opens up an opportunity for one of the players on our team now. I’ll also be working over the next few days here to add another player to our group, probably an older veteran player that can come in and play some big minutes for us.” said Hawes.

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With NCAA rules changing the hockey landscape more players have been moving around. This has created a cutthroat aspect to the business which is becoming the norm.

“Unfortunately it creates a situation where we have one of our best players taken from us. I’m probably going to have to go out now and take a really good player from another team in a different league. It just creates that unfortunate that that vicious cycle but that’s been what’s been created here in the hockey world.” said Hawes.

With the loss of Sasaki, Hawes tells fans it’s still the status quo with 25 other players who work hard and put a good product on the ice.