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March 14, 2007
RBC.022
The Prince George Spruce Kings were among the busiest teams at the BCHL’s trade deadline, picking up four
players on deadline day, and going from coast-to-coast to do it.
Forwards Tyler Helfrich (Ft. McMurray, AJHL), Jason Yuel (Winnipeg Saints, MJHL) and Alain Joanette
(Bancroft, OPJHL), along with goaltender Jordan White (Quesnel, BCHL) were all picked up on January 10, with
the hopes they would make an impact on the road to the 2007 RBC Royal Bank Cup, where the Spruce Kings will
be the host team.
If the final 22 games after the deadline were any indication, Spruce Kings head coach/general manager Ed
Dempsey definitely scored with his additions.
The Spruce Kings finished the season 15-5-1-1 after the January 10 deadline, including a six-game winning
streak immediately following the trades. The run pushed the team into a fight for home-ice advantage in the
first round of the BCHL playoffs, although they fell just short of fourth spot, finishing tied with Salmon
Arm in points, but dropping to fifth with two less wins.
A CLOSER LOOK
Tyler Helfrich, F
H: 5’10”
W: 195 lbs.
Birthdate: July 2, 1987
Hometown: Calgary, AB
How Acquired: Traded from Ft. McMurray (AJHL) to Prince George in exchange for Bobby Hineman and future
considerations, January 10, 2007
Helfrich has made the biggest splash since arriving in Prince George, averaging almost two points per game
– 14G, 15A, 29P – in his fifteen contests with the Spruce Kings. The 19-year-old has been impressive on the
powerplay, scoring seven of his 14 goals with the man advantage. Helfrich had 50 points in 42 games with the
Oil Barons before the trade.
Alain Joanette, F
H: 5’9”
W: 165 lbs.
Birthdate: January 31, 1987
Hometown: Chelmsford, ON
How Acquired: Traded from Bancroft (OPJHL) to Prince George in exchange for future considerations, January
10, 2007
Joanette was a more than point-a-game player with the Spruce Kings after coming over from the OPJHL’s
Bancroft Hawks, with 28 points (9G, 19A) in as 20 games. The Chelmsford native was leading the Hawks in
scoring at the time of the deal, with 49 points in 42 games.
Jordan White, G
H: 6’2”
W: 170 lbs.
Birthdate: March 12, 1988
Hometown: Surrey, BC
How Acquired: Traded from Quesnel (BCHL) to Prince George in exchange for future considerations, January 10,
2007
Dempsey brought in White as a dependable back-up to number one goaltender Joe Rodwell. The 18-year-old
began the season with the Western Hockey League’s Prince George Cougars, where he went 1-5-1 with a 5.05
goals-against-average. He saw action in fifteen games down the stretch with the Spruce Kings, going 8-4-1
with a 3.06 GAA.
Jason Yuel, F
H: 6’0”
W: 190 lbs.
Birthdate: October 19, 1986
Hometown: Winnipeg, MB
How Acquired: Traded from Winnipeg (MJHL) to Prince George in exchange for future considerations, January 10,
2007
Yuel did not put up the expected big offensive numbers after moving over from the MJHL’s Winnipeg Saints,
with just nine points (7G, 2A) in 22 games. But he has been strong on the powerplay, with three of his goals
coming on the man advantage. The 20-year-old Yuel had 62 points, including 32 goals, in 46 games with the
Saints before the trade.
» 2007 RBC Royal Bank Cup
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