PHOTO: Garrett James
Prince George BC: 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. Herrington, from 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. 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.”
PHOTO: Garrett James
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 are both members on the Lakers roster as well. Herrington says choosing Lake 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 1000 people, it should feel like home.”
PHOTO: Garrett James
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 2019-2020. In that same season, Herrington was an affiliate player with the Spruce Kings, before joining the team full time in 2020-2021. Spruce Kings GM Mike Hawes and Head Coach Alex Evin say his hard work is paying off.
“Very excited for John. 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.” – Mike Hawes
“We are very proud of John Herrington and he and his family are very deserving of this achievement. 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.” – Alex Evin
Although Herrington impressed with 14 points in the 20-game pod season, the 5’10 170-pound forward is still a couple 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.”
The Spruce Kings organization would like to congratulate John Herrington on this fantastic achievement!
