By Dave Branco

From coach to mentor, Mike Hawes changed hundreds of lives through hockey

Mar 3, 2026 | 3:14 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – For more than twenty years, Mike Hawes has made a positive impact in Prince George. This week, the Spruce Kings extended their contract as General Manager for another four years. Over the past two decades, he has focused on building more than just a hockey team. As a Prince George native, Hawes is dedicated to helping players grow both on and off the ice.

After years of playing hockey, Hawes returned to coach minor hockey and later became a scout for the Prince George Cougars. When Coach Dempsey joined the Spruce Kings, he brought Hawes with him. Hawes started as an assistant coach, then became assistant GM, and took over as General Manager in 2010. He continues to lead the team today.

Hawes believes building a strong team culture is about more than just finding talented players. It also means earning the trust of players and their families from across Canada. He admits it can be hard to convince people to come to Prince George because of the long travel, smaller market, and tougher recruiting. Still, he says that once players arrive, the program wins them over.

Many former players come back, not to play, but to thank Hawes. He says he has helped hundreds of athletes join NCAA programs across North America. For some, the Spruce Kings hockey program gave them their first opportunity. For many others, the scholarship and their time with the Kings made a big difference in their careers.

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