Royals Clinch 2025 WHL Playoffs Berth
Victoria, B.C., February 17, 2025 – The Victoria Royals officially clinched a berth in the 2025 WHL Playoffs on Monday afternoon. With a record of 32-15-3-6 this season, the Royals have secured their spot in the WHL Playoffs and will begin their pursuit of the Ed Chynoweth Cup this spring.
The Royals lead the B.C. Division and are sitting second in the Western Conference with 73 points. The 2025 WHL Playoffs are expected to commence one week after the regular season concludes, during the weekend of March 28 – 30.
Leading the charge is 2025 draft-eligible Cole Reschny, who hails from Macklin, SK. The 17-year-old has played in 51 games, recording 22 goals and 54 assists for 76 points. He lines up with Teydon Trembecky, who has significantly increased his production this season, netting 36 goals and adding 34 assists for 70 points throughout the 2024-25 campaign. The team bolstered its forward core at the trade deadline with the addition of 20-year-old import forward Kenta Isogai from the Wenatchee Wild. The veteran winger has scored 13 goals and contributed 16 assists for 29 points since donning the Royals uniform.
Another addition at the deadline, 20-year-old veteran forward Brandon Lisowsky, who ranks among the top five in WHL goals with 35 tallies, closing in on his career high of 42 goals from the 2023-24 season with Saskatoon. Hailing from Port Coquitlam, B.C., Lisowsky is on the verge of a major milestone, just 9 points shy of reaching 300 career regular-season points. His linemate, Brayden Boehm, has nearly averaged a point per game during his time with Victoria, while Markus Loponen has delivered a solid rookie campaign.
On the defensive end, Utah Hockey Club prospect and first-year captain Justin Kipkie ranks sixth among WHL defensemen with 11 goals and 39 assists in 51 games. He is complemented by rookie defenseman Keaton Verhoeff, who has amassed 38 points in 51 games in Victoria, placing him sixth in WHL rookie scoring. Verhoeff’s 15 goals as a rookie puts him fourth in all time WHL 16-year-old defenceman goal scoring, and four goals away from setting a Royals franchise record for goals by a defenceman in a single season. Nate Misskey, who was drafted by the San Jose Sharks in the fifth round of the 2024 NHL Draft, has maintained a steady performance with his second consecutive season of 30-plus points. The high-skill defensive corps has contributed to the Royals’ top four goals-for rating this season.
Between the pipes, Jayden Kraus has elevated his game this season, establishing himself as one of the best netminders in the WHL. Kraus boasts the WHL’s fourth-best 2.71 goals-against average and the second-best 0.911 save percentage. The final addition to the Royals’ roster was goaltender Johnny Hicks, hailing from Kamloops, B.C. Hicks joined the team from the Brooks Bandits of the BCHL, where he posted a BCHL-best 1.37 goals-against average and .943 save percentage. In seven games with the Royals, Hicks has recorded a 2.29 goals-against average and 0.922 save percentage.
Now, the Royals are in a race for the B.C. Division title as well as home-ice advantage in the WHL Playoffs. Their journey continues Friday, February 21, when they take on the Prince George Cougars.
Playoff ticket availability and pricing will be announced in the coming weeks. For more information, visit victoriaroyals.com, selectyourtickets.com, and the Royals’ social channels.
Tickets are available at selectyourtickets.com. For more information about all upcoming games, visit victoriaroyals.com.
