The Power Dodge Estevan Bruins have acquired 2000-born goaltender Keenan Rancier from the BCHL's Prince George Spruce Kings, concluding a future considerations deal made at the national junior hockey trade deadline on Jan. 10.
The Bruins will be getting a 19-year-old netminder who was surrounded by a championship culture during his rookie season in junior hockey. The Spruce Kings won the Fred Page Cup as the B.C. Hockey League champions in 2018-19, and also claimed the Doyle Cup by defeating the Brooks Bandits in the BCHL/AJHL best-of-seven series.
Prince George would advance to the final of the National Junior 'A' Championship, falling 4-3 to the host Bandits.
Rancier served as the backup goaltender to Logan Neaton, who was drafted by the Winnipeg Jets in the fifth round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft. In six regular season games with Prince George, Rancier posted a 1.67 goals against average and a .930 save percentage.
He previously played with the Okanagan Hockey Academy in B.C.
Rancier adds depth in net for the Bruins ahead of the team's main camp at the end of August, joining fellow 19-year-old goaltender Kadin Kilpatrick, who is returning after his own rookie season between the pipes for the Black and Gold.
The trade concludes a series of moves made since the Jan. 10 trade deadline, in which the Bruins sent defenceman Jack Michell to the Flin Flon Bombers in exchange for goaltender Pierce Diamond. The Bruins then flipped Diamond to the Cowichan Valley Capitals for future considerations. A number of moves have since been made after the 18-19 season, resulting in Rancier joining the Bruins.
The Bruins 2019-20 fall camp is scheduled for Aug. 29-31 at Affinity Place.
