The West Kent Steamers have announced that forward Spencer Caines has committed to the Wilfrid Laurier University Golden Hawks for the 2026–27 season.
The 20-year-old from Pasadena, Newfoundland was drafted in the 6th Round, 89th overall, by the Valley Wildcats in the 2022 MHL Entry Draft. Caines joined the Wildcats for the 2023-24 season and registered 67 points in 50 games on his way to winning the Rookie of the Year Award and being named to the Rookie All-Star Team. His 67 points placed him second on Valley and fourteenth in overall league scoring, and his 26 powerplay points were tied for third-most. Among rookies, Caines led in points, powerplay goals (10), powerplay assists (16), powerplay points, and assists (40), and had the second-most goals with 27. He was named the league’s Top Forward and Top Rookie in November 2023, was the Honourable Mention for Top Rookie in December, and was named to the Eastlink South Team of the Week three times.
After starting the 2024-25 season with the QMJHL’s Charlottetown Islanders, Caines was traded to the West Kent Steamers at the January deadline. He finished the regular season with thirteen goals and ten assists for 23 points in nineteen games and was named to the Eastlink North Team of the Week three times. In the Metalfab MHL Cup Playoffs, Caines had six goals in six games.
In 2025-26, Caines was fourth in league scoring with 71 points in 51 games for the Steamers. He had 26 goals to go with 45 assists, which ranked fifth in the MHL. Caines set two team records since the franchise moved to Grand-Bouctouche. His 71 points eclipsed the Steamers’ record of 70 set by Alexis Daniel in 2023-24, and his 45 assists passed Xavier Roy’s 42, also in 2023-24. Caines had points in 33 games this season and set two league-highs on February 13th against Chaleur, where he had six assists and seven points in an 8-5 win. He was named to the Eastlink North Team of the Week five times and was named an Honourable Mention for the MHL’s Top Forward in February/March.
The MHL congratulates Caines on his post-secondary commitment.