Royals Select 10 Players during U.S. Priority Draft & Day 2 of the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft
Victoria, B.C. – The Victoria Royals selected two players in the 2025 U.S. Priority Draft and eight players from rounds two through nine of the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft.
U.S. Priority Draft
Round 1
With the 20th overall pick in the first round of the U.S. Priority Draft, the Royals selected forward Joey Cullen. Hailing from Moorhead, Minnesota, Cullen appeared in 51 games where he put up 67 goals and 84 assists for 151 points with Moorhead Bantam AA during the 2024/25 season. Cullen led the 15U AA league is scoring as well as finishing first on the Moorhead Bantam AA team in goals.
Round 2
With the 28th overall pick in the second round of the U.S. Priority Draft, the Royals selected forward Dean Stevens. Hailing from Minnetonka, Minnesota, Stevens appeared in 17 games for the MN Lakers 14U AAA where he scored 25 goals and eight assists for 33 points. Stevens led the Lakers in goals and points during the 2024/25 season. Stevens also finished seventh in scoring in the MNHP 14U league.
WHL Prospects Draft
Round 3
With the 50th overall pick in the third round, Victoria selected forward Chace Gregg. Hailing from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Gregg appeared in 32 games for the Winnipeg Bruins U15 AAA this season where he scored 34 goals and 66 assists for 100 points. Gregg finished first on the Bruins in scoring and third in scoring in the WAAA U15 league.
Round 4
With the 73rd overall pick in the fourth round, Victoria selected defenceman Trystan James. Hailing from Calgary, Alberta, James played 34 games for the Calgary Flames U15 AAA this season where he posted seven goals and 21 assists for 28 points. James finished first in defenceman scoring on the Calgary Flames U15 AAA team.
With the 88th overall pick in the fourth round, Victoria selected forward Kevin Knee. Hailing from Brandon, Manitoba, Knee appeared in 32 games for the Brandon Wheat Kings U15 AAA where he scored 44 goals and 41 assists for 85 points. Knee led the Wheat Kings team in goals and points, as well as finishing eighth in league scoring.
With the 91st overall pick in the fourth round, Victoria selected defenceman Alexander Rode. Hailing from North Vancouver, B.C., Rode appeared in 29 games for St. George’s School U15 Prep this season where he scored three goals and 15 assists for 18 points.
Round 6
With the 128th overall pick in the sixth round, Victoria selected forward Carter Gilchrist. Hailing from Medicine Hat, Alberta, Gilchrist appeared in 34 games for the SEAC Tigers U15 AAA where he scored 18 goals and 22 assists for 40 points. Gilchrist finished first in scoring on the Tigers.
With the 129th overall pick in the sixth round, Victoria selected goaltender Ardan Downey. Hailing from Winnipeg, Manitoba, Downey appeared in 18 games this season for the Winnipeg Wild U15 AAA where he put up a 1.86 GAA and .946 Save Percentage.
With the 134th overall pick in the sixth round, Victoria selected forward William Cullen. Hailing from Moorhead, Minnesota, Cullen appeared in 53 games for the Moorhead Bantam AA where he put up 19 goals and 30 assists for 49 points, as well as appearing in 22 games for the MN Blue Ox 14U AAA and scoring 14 goals and 18 assists for 32 points. Cullen led Moorhead Bantam AA in goals and points.
Round 9
With the 203rd overall pick in the ninth round, Victoria selected forward Adam Benn. Hailing from Cloverdale, B.C., Benn played for St. George’s School U15 Prep this season where he appeared in 36 games putting up 19 goals and 18 assists for 37 points. Benn finished fifth in scoring on the team.
Trades
The Royals made a trade with the Edmonton Oil Kings during the second round of the draft. The Royals traded the 25th overall pick in the 2nd round and a 3rd round pick in 2027 (MJ) in exchange for the 36th overall pick in the 2nd round, a 3rd round pick in 2026 (MJ), 77th overall pick in the 4th round, a 4th round pick in 2027 and a 6th round pick in 2026.
Later in the second round, the Royals traded the 36th overall pick in the second round, which was acquired from Edmonton to Medicine Hat in exchange for the 50th overall pick in the third round and 91st overall pick in the fourth round.
During the third round, the Royals traded the 54th overall pick to Lethbridge in exchange for the 73rd overall pick and a 4th round pick in 2027.
During the fourth round, the Royals traded the 77th pick, as well as the 181st pick in the eighth round to the Saskatoon Blades in exchange for the 129th pick in the sixth round and a fourth-round pick in 2027.
