Victoria Royals - Feed

Royals Sign Sam Schulte to WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement

chlwebproduct — Tue, 12 May 2026 21:59:23 +0000

Victoria, B.C. – The Victoria Royals announced the signing of 2007-born defenseman Sam Schulte to a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement.
A 6’1, 174 lbs. defenceman from Robbinsdale, Minnesota, Schulte most recently played for the Rochester Jr. Americans and Chippewa Steel in the NAHL.
In 47 games during the 2025-26 season, Schulte put up 42 points with 11 goals and 31 assists. He was named a finalist for NAHL Defenseman of the Year and earned spots on both the All-NAHL Team and All-East Division Team.
At the time of his December trade to the Rochester Jr. Americans, Schulte was leading the Chippewa Steel in points.
“We are excited Sam has chosen to play for our program to continue his development” said Royals General Manager Jake Heisinger. “He had an excellent season, and we are confident he can build off that heading into this year”.

2026 WHL Draft Day 2 Recap

chlwebproduct — Thu, 07 May 2026 22:51:02 +0000

Victoria, B.C. – The Victoria Royals selected eight players from rounds 2 through 10 of the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft.
Draft Selections
Round 2 With the 28th overall pick in the 2nd round, Victoria selected forward Kristian Lima. Hailing from Langley, BC, Lima appeared in 30 games for Burnaby Winter Club U15 Prep this season where he scored 24 goals and 27 assists for 51 points. Lima finished second on BWC in scoring and 15th in scoring in CSSHL U15 prep league.
Round 4 With the 73rd overall pick in the 4th round, Victoria selected forward Jaxson Weisgerber. Hailing from Sturgeon County, Alberta, Weisgerber played 30 games for OHA Edmonton U15 Prep this season where he posted 20 goals and 33 assists for 53 points. Weisberger finished second on his team in scoring.
Round 5 With the 112th overall pick in the 5th round, Victoria selected forward Brody Trost. Hailing from Los Altos, California, Trost appeared in 71 games for the Bishop Kearney Selects U14 AAA where he scored 37 goals and 37 assists for 74 points. Prior to joining Bishop Kearney Selects, he played in the Los Angeles Jr. Kings system.
Round 6 With the 134th overall pick in the 6th round, Victoria selected defenceman Madden Rome. Hailing from Red Deer, Alberta, Rome appeared in 20 games for the Red Deer Rebels U15 AAA. Rome stands at 6’1, 190lbs.
Round 7 With the 148th overall pick in the 7th round, Victoria selected goaltender Renner Andersen. Hailing from St. Louis Park, Minnesota, Andersen appeared in 62 games this season for the Shattuck St. Mary’s 14U AAA where he put up a .937 Save Percentage.
Round 8 With the 166th overall pick in the 8th round, Victoria selected forward Charlie Usher. Hailing from Calgary, AB and born in Perth, Australia, Usher appeared in 32 games for the Calgary Flames U15 AAA where he put up 11 goals and 14 assists for 25 points. His scoring total placed him fourth in team scoring.
With the 170th overall pick in the 8th round, Victoria selected forward Peyton Malinski. Hailing from Chandler, Arizona, Malinski played this season for Phoenix Jr. Coyotes 14U AAA. He stands at 6’2, 180 lbs.
To conclude the draft, Victoria added 2007 born goaltender Kason Kobelka. Hailing from Calgary, Alberta, Kobelka played for the Melfort Mustangs in the SJHL this season where he appeared in 32 games putting up 2.33 goals-against-average and a .915 save-percentage, finishing with a 19-9-3 record.
Trades
The Royals made a trade with the Edmonton Oil Kings during the 3rd round of the draft. The Royals traded the 51st overall pick in the 3rd round in exchange for the 134th overall pick in the 6th round, a 6th round pick in 2027, and a 2nd round pick in 2030.
In the 5th round, the Royals traded the 97th overall pick in the 5th round and the 189th overall pick in the 9th round to the Portland Winterhawks for the 148th overall pick in the 7th round and a 4th round pick in 2028.
During the 8th round, the Royals acquired the 166th overall pick from Moose Jaw in exchange for an 8th round pick in 2030.

Royals Acquire Dallas Stars Prospect Cameron Schmidt

chlwebproduct — Thu, 07 May 2026 02:10:35 +0000

Victoria, B.C. – The Victoria Royals announced today that they have acquired 2007-born forward Cameron Schmidt from the Seattle Thunderbirds in exchange for the 7^th Overall selection in the 2026 WHL Draft and a 2028 4^th Round selection.
Schmidt, who hails from Prince George, BC, is a prospect for the Dallas Stars in the NHL, having been drafted 94^th overall in the 3^rd round of the 2025 NHL Draft. A finalist for WHL Player of the Year this past season, Schmidt lead the WHL in goal-scoring, totalling 51 goals alongside 49 assists for 100 points in 72 games, placing him third in league point-scoring.
“Cam is as dynamic of a player as there is in this league“ said Royals General Manager Jake Heisinger. “Adding a player of Cam’s caliber signals to our strong group of returning players as well as to our fans the high expectations we have for next season“.
"I’m excited for the opportunity ahead and ready to make the most of it" said Schmidt.
Originally drafted in the first round of the 2022 WHL Draft by the Vancouver Giants, the former RINK Hockey Academy Kelowna standout was traded to the Seattle Thunderbirds in a trade deadline deal during the 2025-26 season. In 195 career WHL games, Schmidt has scored 123 goals and 114 assists for 237 points.

2026 WHL Draft Round 1 Recap

chlwebproduct — Thu, 07 May 2026 02:00:07 +0000

Victoria, B.C. – The Victoria Royals make massive moves in the first round of the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft, completing a pair of trades including the addition of a shining star to the roster for next season.
Trades
The Royals made early moves in the first round, trading the 5th overall pick to the Wenatchee Wild in exchange for the 28th overall pick, a 1st round pick in 2027, and a 2nd and 3rd round pick in the 2029 draft.
Victoria continued to stay active, later trading the 7th overall pick in 2026 along with a 2028 fourth-round pick to the Seattle Thunderbirds in exchange for Dallas Stars prospect Cameron Schmidt. Schmidt recorded 100 points during the 2025-26 WHL season, including 51 goals, after being acquired by Seattle from the Vancouver Giants at the trade deadline. The 2025 third round NHL draft prospect finished the season as a Player of the Year finalist, first in league goal-scoring and third in points.

2026 WHL Prospects Draft Show streaming exclusively on Victory+

chlwebproduct — Wed, 06 May 2026 17:08:29 +0000

Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League will conduct the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft this Wednesday, May 6, with exclusive livestreaming coverage of the first round available for FREE on Victory+.

The 2026 WHL Prospects Draft Show will commence Wednesday, May 6, with pre-draft coverage beginning at 5:30 p.m. MT. The first round of the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft will get underway at 6 p.m. MT.

The 2026 WHL Prospects Draft Show will be co-hosted by award-winning sports reporter Cami Kepke (WHL Manager, Community Engagement and Content) and WHL alumnus Brad Ginnell (WHL Manager, Hockey Operations and Recruitment), and is set to feature special guests from WHL Clubs, in-depth coverage and analysis of each selection.

Real-time results for the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft will be available at WHL.ca.

The Kelowna Rockets hold the first-overall selection in the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft. The only time the Rockets selected first overall in the WHL Prospects Draft, they called the name of Adam Smith in 1991, when the franchise was located in Tacoma, Wash.

Other recent first-overall picks include 2024-25 WHL Rookie of the Year Landon DuPont (Everett Silvertips (2024), 2025-26 WHL Eastern Conference First Team All-Star Daxon Rudolph (Prince Albert Raiders, 2023), 2024-25 WHL Player of the Year Gavin McKenna (Medicine Hat Tigers, 2022), and Seattle Kraken forward Berkly Catton (Spokane Chiefs, 2021), among others.

The first round of the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft will stream FREE on Victory+. The remainder of the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft will be completed Thursday, May 7, beginning at 10 a.m. MT.

2026 WHL Prospects Draft – First Round Order of Selection

1. Kelowna Rockets (from Lethbridge)	13. Everett Silvertips (from Kamloops
2. Vancouver Giants (from Wenatchee)	14. Lethbridge Hurricanes (from Saskatoon)
3. Wenatchee Wild (from Swift Current)	15. Brandon Wheat Kings
4. Vancouver Giants	16. Spokane Chiefs (from Calgary)
5. Victoria Royals (from Moose Jaw)	17. Red Deer Rebels (from Kelowna)
6. Tri-City Americans	18. Saskatoon Blades (from Prince George)
7. Victoria Royals	19. Tri-City Americans (from Edmonton)
8. Kamloops Blazers (from Red Deer)	20. Penticton Vees
9. Regina Pats	21. Medicine Hat Tigers
10. Portland Winterhawks	22. Swift Current Broncos (from Prince Albert)
11. Seattle Thunderbirds	23. Swift Current Broncos (from Everett)
12. Spokane Chiefs

The order of selection for the second round and all subsequent rounds will be the inverse order of the final standings from the 2025-26 WHL Regular Season. The complete order of selection for the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft can be found at WHL.ca.

Players eligible for the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft are 2011-born players who reside in Alberta, British Columbia, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Northwest Territories, Yukon, Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

Players not selected in the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft will remain eligible to be listed by WHL Clubs at any time thereafter.

About the Western Hockey League

Regarded as the world’s finest development league for junior hockey players, the Western Hockey League (WHL) head office is based in Calgary, Alberta. The WHL consists of 23 member Clubs with 17 located in Western Canada and six in the U.S. Pacific Northwest. A member of the Canadian Hockey League, the WHL has been a leading supplier of talent for the National Hockey League for over 50 years. The WHL is also the leading provider of hockey scholarships with over 375 graduates each year receiving WHL Scholarships to pursue a post-secondary education of their choice. Each season, WHL players also form the nucleus of Canada’s National Junior Hockey Team.

Runtso and Stewart Listed on NHL Central Scouting Final Rankings

chlwebproduct — Thu, 16 Apr 2026 19:06:09 +0000

Timofei Runtso and Nolan Stewart have been listed on NHL Central Scouting’s final 2026 NHL Draft Rankings.
Runtso, officially ranked 48th overall among North American Skaters, finished his first year in the WHL with 44 points (11 goals, 33 assists) in 68 games. Having finished first in point scoring among Royals defensemen, the Marina del Rey, California product earned the Victoria Royals Top Defenseman award.
Stewart, ranked 199th overall among North American Skaters, had a career season in his second year with Victoria. The Edmonton, AB based forward more than doubled his career point total this season, amassing 50 points (16 goals, 34 assists) in 65 games. Stewart earned the Royals Fan Choice Award following the conclusion of the regular season. He was originally drafted by Victoria in the fifth round, 104th overall in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft.

Ethan Eskit Raises $985 for CMHA Through Saves for Mental Health Campaign

chlwebproduct — Wed, 08 Apr 2026 18:55:44 +0000

Victoria B.C., - Victoria Royals goaltender Ethan Eskit teamed up with the Canadian Mental Health Association’s (CMHA) local branch in Victoria this season to spread mental health awareness in sport. Through the Saves for Mental Health campaign, $537.50 was raised with the support of Royals fans and the local community. In addition, the Victoria Royals Foundation pledged to donate $1 for every save Eskit made starting January 31, 2026. By the end of the regular season, Eskit recorded 448 saves, resulting in a $448 contribution from the Foundation and bringing the total amount raised to $985. "We all have mental health, just like we all have physical health. When we talk about it, we make it safer and easier for people to reach out for support when they need it," says Antonia Kalmacoff Jennings, CMHA BC's Senior Director of Development and Communications. "We are so grateful for the continued partnership of the Victoria Royals Foundation, the Victoria Royals team and fans, and goalie Ethan Eskit for making so many Saves for Mental Health. Thank you for your amazing generosity and bringing the community together to make a difference." “Being able to support mental health through the Saves for Mental Health initiative has meant a lot to me,” says Eskit. “Raising over $900 is something I’m really proud of, and I couldn’t have done it without the incredible support from our fans and the community. Their support truly made the difference.” Funds raised from this initiative will go directly to local CMHA programs, including several that focus on helping individuals build mental health strategies, assisting new parents navigating the postpartum period and de-stigmatization amongst young people. Thank you to everyone who supported this initiative. For more information on CMHA and resources visit CMHA’s page.

Victoria Royals Announce Team Awards Recipients

chlwebproduct — Sun, 29 Mar 2026 21:35:49 +0000

teaVictoria, B.C – The Victoria Royals have announced Team Awards recipients for the 2025-26 season. This year’s MVP Award goes to goaltender Ethan Eskit. Eskit, hailing from Calgary, A.B, doubled his careers game played this season with entering the crease 53 times. In those games, Eskit put up a .904 save-percentage and a 2.99 goals-against-average. Eskit, acquired by Victoria in the prior offseason, kicked off his Royals tenure with a 26-save shutout of the expansion Penticton Vees, setting the tone for what would be a very strong season by the 19-year-old netminder. Timofei Runtso, from Marina Del Rey, California has been named the recipient of the Top Defenceman Award. Runtso, in his first season in the WHL, scored 44 points (11 goals, 33 assists) in 68 games played. In his NHL draft eligible season, Runtso was ranked 53^rd among North American Skaters by NHL Central Scouting in their mid-term rankings for the 2026 NHL Entry Draft. After a career-high 56 points (32 goals, 24 assists) this season, Roan Woodward received the Top Goal Scorer Award. Woodward, from Nipawin, S.K, finished first on the team in points in his over-age season after joining the Royals via trade in the prior offseason from the Edmonton Oil Kings. In his second season with the Victoria Royals, Nolan Stewart put up a career year. This season, the NHL draft eligible forward scored 50 points (16 goals, 34 assists) in 65 games, placing second in team scoring. Stewart is this year’s recipient of the Fan Choice Award. Stewart was ranked 200^th among North American Skaters by NHL Central Scouting in their mid-term rankings for the 2026 NHL Entry Draft Calgary, Alberta’s Miles Cooper received the Most Dedicated Player Award after scoring 37 points (10 goals, 27 assists) in his first season with the Royals. Cooper was acquired by Victoria in the 2025 preseason from the Wenatchee Wild. Forward Ludovic Perreault and defenseman Odin Vauhkonen have been named co-recipients of the Rookie of the Year Award. Perreault, the Royals 18^th overall selection in the 2024 WHL Draft, scored 36 points (20 goals, 16 assists) in 68 games this season. Vauhkonen, drafted by the Royals in the 2023 WHL US Priority Draft, manned the top-pair for most of the season and scored 23 points (3 goals, 20 assists) in 65 games. Defenseman Landon Young and forward Heath Nelson have been named co-recipients of the Unsung Hero Award. Young, in his 2^nd season with the Victoria Royals, doubled his career point totals with 19 points (three goals, 16 assists) in 58 games played. Nelson, who joined the Royals this past offseason, put up 45 points (21 goals, 24 assists) in his first season in the Western Hockey League. Earning this year’s Hardest Worker Award honours are captain Reggie Newman and rookie forward Ludovic Perreault. For Newman, the Kamloops B.C. product, this is his 3^rd year in a row receiving the award. Perreault, hailing from Winnipeg, M.B., lead Victoria Royals rookie forwards in points this season. This year’s Community Service Award was awarded to forwards Reggie Newman & Miles Cooper. Both players gave back to the community with their ambassador work with Hockey Gives Blood, visiting the Canadian Cancer Society’s Cancer Lodge, and taking part in many school visits across the Greater Victoria Area. Newman, named the 10^th captain in Royals history at the beginning of the year, tied a career high 40 points (12 goals, 28 assists) in 57 games played. With a career-best season, Hayden Moore is this year’s recipient of the Most Improved Award. Moore, hailing from Winnipeg, M.B, scored career highs in goals, assists, and points with 18 goals, 30 assists, for 48 points on the year. Moore wore the “A” as part of the leadership group for the Royals this season. Defenseman Odin Vauhkonen, from Costa Mesa, California, was presented with the Scholastic Player of the Year Award. Vauhkonen, in his first 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: MVP - Ethan Eskit Top Defenseman - Timofei Runtso Top Goal Scorer - Roan Woodward Fan Choice Award - Nolan Stewart Unsung Hero Award - Landon Young & Heath Nelson Scholastic Player of the Year - Odin Vauhkonen Hardest Worker - Ludovic Perreault & Reggie Newman Most Dedicated Player - Miles Cooper Most Improved - Hayden Moore Rookie of the Year - Ludovic Perreault & Odin Vauhkonen Community Service Award - Miles Cooper & Reggie Newman

2026 WHL Prospects Draft Lottery results to be unveiled Thursday on Victory+

chlwebproduct — Wed, 25 Mar 2026 23:24:04 +0000

Calgary, Alta. – The Western Hockey League announced today details for the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft Lottery, with results set to be unveiled Thursday, March 26 at 7 p.m. MT, streaming FREE on Victory+.

The 2026 WHL Prospects Draft Lottery will involve the seven non-playoff Clubs from the 2025-26 WHL Regular Season – Lethbridge, Swift Current, Vancouver, Wenatchee, Moose Jaw, Tri-City, and Victoria. A Club may only move up a maximum of two positions in the WHL Prospects Draft.

The WHL Prospects Draft Lottery will use a total of 28 balls, the allotment of which is as follows:

Kelowna (traded from Lethbridge) – Seven balls
Wenatchee (traded from Swift Current) – Six balls
Vancouver – Five balls
Vancouver (traded from Wenatchee) – Four balls
Victoria (traded from Moose Jaw) – Three balls
Tri-City – Two balls
Victoria – One ball

The lottery applies to the first round of the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft. Starting with the second round, all WHL Clubs shall draft based on the inverse order of the final standings from the 2025-26 WHL Regular Season.

2026 WHL Prospects Draft

The first round of the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft will be held Wednesday, May 6. The remainder of the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft will be held Thursday, May 7.

Players born in the United States will be eligible for the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft. Previously, U.S. born players have been selected by WHL Clubs primarily through the WHL U.S. Priority Draft. The WHL will only host the WHL Prospects Draft in 2026.

Since 2000, numerous impactful players have heard their names called with the first-overall pick in the WHL Prospects Draft, including Landon DuPont (Everett Silvertips, 2024), Daxon Rudolph (Prince Albert Raiders, 2023), Gavin McKenna (Medicine Hat Tigers, 2022), Berkly Catton (Spokane Chiefs, 2021), and Connor Bedard (Regina Pats, 2020).

Players not selected in the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft will remain eligible to be listed by WHL Clubs at any time thereafter.

For complete coverage of the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft and the 2026 WHL Playoffs presented by Nutrien, please visit WHL.ca.

About the Western Hockey League

Royals present lucky fans with signed sticks for Fan Appreciation Night

chlwebproduct — Thu, 19 Mar 2026 00:04:57 +0000

Victoria B.C., March 18, 2025 - After the success of the Jersey off the Back presentation from last year, the Victoria Royals Hockey Club is excited to share that the team will be doing a signed stick giveaway for Fan Appreciation this Saturday March 21st. After the final horn, the team will present their sticks to twenty-three lucky fans. Fans will be entered into the draw by scanning into Saturday’s game against the Prince George Cougars. The draw will proceed as:

All fans who attend the game, and have scanned their ticket to enter the building, will be automatically entered.
The draw will take place during the first period.
The winning tickets will be announced during the second period.
If your ticket is drawn, you must visit the Guest Services desk by the end of second intermission, to provide your information. You must be able to show your ticket, matching the seat that was drawn at the Guest Services Desk. Paper or digital will be accepted.
You will receive further instruction at the Guest Services desk on where to be in the last five minutes of the third to receive the stick in an on-ice presentation.
Upon presentation you will have the opportunity to get your stick signed and get your photo taken.
Remain on the ice for a group photo with the team after you receive your stick.

Restrictions:

To be eligible to receive the stick, the fan must attend the end of the game and meet in the set location.
Must be able to show your ticket and ID to claim your stick.
If you do not visit Guest Services prior to the end of second intermission, or do not have ID another ticket will be drawn.
You must be willing to go on the ice to collect your stick.
Trading of tickets is not permitted; you must have an ID that matches the ticket.
Trading of envelopes of which player’s sticks you are receiving will not be allowed.
The contest is at the discretion of the club, if inappropriate behaviour is displayed, such as attempting to barter or trade tickets or envelopes with the player’s name occurs, the team can re-draw a different winner.

In addition to the the stick giveaway fans can look forward to:

Over $10,000 in giveaways throughout the night.
Entrance & exit giveaways
Giveaways from over twenty businesses
Island Savings, Cascadia Liquor, and Crohns Canada will be on concourse.

The Victoria Royals Hockey Club would like to thank the fans for all their support this season and are excited to have you back for the final pair of regular season home games this weekend at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre. Tickets can be purchased at selectyourtickets.com.