(Photo Courtesy: Vicki Brown, MyLight Sports Photography)
PRINCE GEORGE – The Prince George Spruce Kings are thrilled to announce the NCAA D1 commitment of defenceman Ben LeFranc (’03) for the 2024-25 season.
On Tuesday, LeFranc posted to his social media announcing he will be taking his skills to the College of the Holy Cross, located in Worcester, Massachusetts.
“The recruiting process was quick. Everything fell into place so suddenly. Going out there to Worcester and engaging with the team as well as seeing the campus and facilities in person made it so much easier to make my decision,” said LeFranc. “What made Holy Cross so attractive to me was their elite coaching staff, their emphasis on hockey as well as academics, and their alumni network. If hockey ends, you have the ability to find internships and jobs and be set for life.”
The Holy Cross Crusaders men’s ice hockey team is a Division 1 program within the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The Crusaders are a member of the Atlantic Hockey Association, which includes other notable programs like Bentley University (Nick Bochen and Colton Cameron), Mercyhurst University, American International College (Dustin Manz), and Rochester Institute of Technology.
“We are very proud of Ben, and he and his family are very deserving of this achievement,” said Spruce Kings head coach Alex Evin. “Since joining our team as a young player in the shortened covid season, we have witnessed Benny put in the work to be a successful junior hockey player and now he is rewarded with a college commitment. We are excited for him to continue his development with the Spruce Kings before he joins Holy Cross.”
In 51 games this season, LeFranc scored six goals and 24 assists (30 points) and was the top-scoring defenceman for the Spruce Kings during the 2022-23 season. The product of Penticton, BC led the Spruce Kings in powerplay assists with 16 and finished second in total assists.
“Benny is a perfect example of how the development model works. He came to us three seasons ago and worked hard on his game,” said Spruce Kings general manager Mike Hawes. “That hard work has resulted in this much-deserved NCAA Div. 1 scholarship with a great program. We are thrilled for Benny and his family.”
With a few months before training camp remaining, LeFranc will be working hard on and off the ice to prepare himself for the 2023-24 season.
“I’d say my preparation will change slightly. I believe that now that a team has invested in me, I feel a certain responsibility to hold myself to a higher standard of execution in everything I do from working out to going on the ice,” admitted the 19-year-old. “In terms of what Holy Cross wants to see out of me this upcoming season, I’d say they want to see me engaged in the player whether it’s jumping in the rush or having a solid stick in the ‘D’ zone. They want me to play with a high level of confidence.”
The Spruce Kings are proud of Ben for this achievement as he looks towards the future of his hockey-playing career, and we look forward to his further contributions to our organization.
