WATERLOO, Ont. - Spencer Caines, the 2024 Maritime Junior Hockey League (MHL) rookie of the year and one of the league's top scorers last season, has committed to the Laurier Golden Hawks men's hockey program as part of the 2026-27 recruiting class.

The 20-year-old forward from Pasadena, Newfoundland, joins Laurier after a standout season with the West Kent Steamers, where he finished fourth in league scoring with 71 points in 51 games.

The six-foot-three, 201-pound forward scored 26 goals and added 45 assists, the latter ranking fifth in the league.

According to a league release, Caines' 71-point season established a new Steamers franchise record, while his six-assist, seven-point performance in February marked league highs for a single game during the 2024-25 season.

"I chose Laurier as it gives me an opportunity to play high-level hockey while continuing my education at a great school and program," Caines said.

"I hope to combine my offensive touch as well as my size and strength to add to the lineup this season."

Caines also appeared in 25 games for the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League's Charlottetown Islanders during the 2024-25 season, recording one goal and two assists.

Laurier manager of men's hockey operations and head coach Kevin Forrest said adding size and physicality to the Golden Hawks' forward group was a key priority during the off-season.

"One of our priorities going into this off-season was to add some size and physicality to our forward group without sacrificing speed and skill," Forrest said. "Spencer checks all those boxes for us as a big, powerful, skilled right-shot forward with good speed, high compete level, and ability to impact the game in all three zones."

Forrest said Laurier's offence struggled at times late last season against tighter defensive play and believes Caines can help address those issues.

"As defences got tighter down the stretch and into playoffs last year, we struggled to get inside the scoring and crease areas at times, limiting our offence," Forrest said. "Spencer, and some of the other forward additions this summer, address that need.

"His ability to create offence off the rush, get inside the scoring areas and win puck battles should help us generate more offence this season and beyond."