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Powell River Kings announce signings

Junior hockey club bringing aboard a new forward and defenceman

Powell River Kings have announced the signings of 2005-born forward Ben Wright and 2004-born defenceman Sam Grabner for the 2024-25 hockey season.

According to a media release from the Kings, Wright is a Vancouver Island boy, hailing from Mill Bay, and comes to the Kings with 60 games in the Western Hockey League with the Edmonton Oil Kings. He split last season with the Oil Kings, Estevan Bruins (Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League) and the Merritt Centennials, where he notched four assists in 13 games for the Cents.

"Ben is a six-foot, four-inch, power forward who plays with a lot of patience and poise," stated Kings assistant general manager Stephan Seeger Jr. "We believe his previous experience as a major junior player and his time with the Centennials will be a great addition to our roster. Ben will seamlessly fit into our system and our community. We are proud to welcome him aboard."

The 20-year-old Grabner will be a veteran addition to the blueline. The Ottawa native has more than 100 junior hockey games to his credit that includes 37 with the Centennials last season, the release stated. He is also a Centennial Cup champion, winning the Canadian Junior A title in 2023 with the Ottawa Junior Senators.

"Sam is a big, solid, and consistent defender who knows what it takes to go far in the postseason,” stated Seeger Jr. "We are very happy to add a Centennial Cup champion to our locker room. We believe in Sam's character, and his previous junior experiences will bring a level of compete and energy to our team that is warmly welcomed and encouraged."

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