Victoria Royals Announce Team Awards Recipients
Victoria, BC – The Victoria Royals have announced the recipients of the team awards following the 2024-25 season.
Taking home the most hardware was Forward Cole Reschny, who received the Gauer Olson Most Valuable Player Award, co-received the Apex Steel & Gas Hardest Worker Award, and was given the Better Print Top Point Scorer Award after his team-leading 92-point (26 goals, 66 assists) campaign. Reschny, hailing from Macklin, SK, was drafted by the Royals third-overall in 2022, and is ranked 25th among North American Skaters heading into the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.
Nate Misskey, from Melfort, SK, alongside Justin Kipkie, hailing from Calgary, AB, have been named co-recipients of the Wilson’s Transportation Top Defenceman Award. The two veteran blueliners played heavy minutes and were crucial to the success of the team, both providing solid defense as well as a scoring touch from the point. Misskey, a 2024 fifth round draft pick of the San Jose Sharks, scored 47 points (10 goals, 37 assists) in 63 games this season. Kipkie, team captain and 2023 fifth round draft pick of the now Utah Hockey Club, put up a career high 62 points (12 goals, 50 assists) in 64 games in 2024-25.
After a career-high 88 points (46 goals, 42 assists) this season, Teydon Trembecky received the Mayfair Optometric Top Goal Scorer Award and was a co-recipient of the Most Improved Award. Trembecky, from Sherwood Park, AB, found his scoring touch this season, in which his assists alone outpaced his career point total before the season began.
Ever since joining the Royals in January of 2025, Brandon Lisowsky made an immediate impact, scoring 31 points (18 goals, 13 assists) in 32 games with Victoria. Hailing from Port Coquitlam, B.C., Lisowsky is this year’s recipient of The Keg Fan’s Choice Award. Lisowsky was drafted to the NHL in 2022 in the seventh round by the Toronto Maple Leafs.
Oulu, Finland’s Markus Loponen, received the Most Dedicated Player Award after scoring 44 points (19 goals, 25 assists) in his first season playing in North America. Loponen was selected by the Winnipeg Jets in the fifth round of the 2024 NHL Draft.
Kenta Isogai, hailing from Nagano, Japan, is this year’s recipient of the Commitment to Excellence Award. Having joined the Royals in January, Isogai came in and produced immediately, scoring 40 points (17 goals, 23 assists) in the 31 games spent with the Royals. He continued the production through the playoffs, scoring an impressive 17 points through 11 games in the postseason.
Since joining the Royals in August of 2024, Cosmo Wilson stood out for his strong defensive play, willingness to block shots, and ability to help the team in all situations. Wilson, who hails from Vernon, B.C. was named the recipient of the 4 Seasons Fire Prevention Unsung Hero Award.
Reggie Newman (Kamloops, BC) co-received the Apex Steel & Gas Hardest Worker Award. This was the second year in a row that Newman has received the award. Newman put up 33 points (13 goals, 22 assists) over the course of the year, and continued scoring in the playoffs, scoring seven points (two goals, five assists) in 11 games.
This year’s VicPD Community Service Award was awarded to netminder Jayden Kraus. In partnering with the Victoria Royals Foundation, Kraus helped raise $1596.25 for the Canadian Mental Health Association and was a finalist for the Doug Wickenheiser Memorial Trophy for WHL Humanitarian of the Year.
Keaton Verhoeff’s rookie season was one for the record books. The Fort Saskatchewan, AB born defenseman set a new Royals franchise record for most goals in a season by a defenseman (21) and became only the third 16-year-old defenseman in WHL history to have more that 16 goals in a year. Verhoeff finished his first full year in the WHL with 45 points (21 goals, 24 assists) and was nearly a point-per-game player in the playoffs. Verhoeff received the Mitchell Excavating Rookie of the Year Award.
After a strong year of growth on the blueline, Victoria, B.C. product Seth Fryer co-received the Most Improved Award. Fryer achieved a career high 13 points (one goal, 12 assists) in 2024/25.
Forward Caleb Matthews, from Calgary, AB, was presented with the Scholastic Player of the Year Award. Matthews, in his first full year in the WHL, recorded 16 points (six goals, 10 assists) during the season as well as achieving the highest grade average of all the Royals high school players.
You can view the full list of winners below:
Gauer Olson Most Valuable Player Award – #7 Cole Reschny
Wilson’s Transportation Top Defenceman Award – #3 Justin Kipkie & #23 Nate Misskey
Better Print Top Point Scorer Award – #7 Cole Reschny
Mayfair Optometric Top Goal Scorer Award – #22 Teydon Trembecky
The Keg Fan’s Choice Award- #8 Brandon Lisowsky
Most Dedicated Player Award – #20 Markus Loponen
Commitment to Excellence Award – #86 Kenta Isogai
4 Seasons Fire Prevention Unsung Hero Award – #12 Cosmo Wilson
Apex Steel & Gas Hardest Worker Award – #25 Reggie Newman & #7 Cole Reschny
VicPD Community Service Award- #33 Jayden Kraus
Michell Excavating Rookie of the Year Award – #18 Keaton Verhoeff
Most Improved Award – #4 Seth Fryer & #22 Teydon Trembecky
Scholastic Player of the Year Award – #26 Caleb Matthews
