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Cents add WHL defenceman Ethan King

The Merritt Centennials announced today the signing of defenceman Ethan King for the remainder of the 2016-17 season.

King comes to the Cents from the Lethbridge Hurricanes of the Western Hockey League. In 14 games as a rookie with the Hurricanes this season, the 17-year-old was held scoreless.

He spent 2015-16 with the North Okanagan Knights of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League, but only got into five games due to a knee injury.

The 6’6″, 225 lb. blueliner from Vernon, BC, was selected by Lethbridge in the 2nd round, 23rd overall of the 2014 WHL Bantam Draft. King is an alumni of the Pursuit of Excellence program, where he played from 2012-15.

“It’s almost impossible to miss our newest addition. We hope to have a trade-off with Ethan where he gives us quality minutes and makes things difficult for opposing forwards, and we’ll help develop him into the player he wants to become,” said Cents GM and Head Coach Joe Martin.

In another move, defenceman Tyler Holz has left the Centennials. The 20-year-old will return to his hometown of Osoyoos and play junior B in the KIJHL with the Coyotes.

“Some players decide to pack it in, and some don’t. We’re happy with our team. Now that the deadline has passed, we look forward to focusing on the task at hand – and that’s winning games, getting better everyday, and just enjoying hockey,” added Martin.

Holz had 13 assists in 79 career games in Merritt.