Royals defenceman Verhoeff named WHL Rookie of the Week

Calgary, Alta. – Victoria Royals defenceman Keaton Verhoeff has been named WHL Rookie of the Week for the week ending Sunday, January 5, 2025, the Western Hockey League announced Monday.

This is the third time Verhoeff has won the award this season.

The 16-year-old picked up two goals and two assists for four points in four games.

Verhoeff registered a pair of assists in wild back-to-back matches against the Vancouver Giants on December 31 and January 1, with mixed results for the Royals. After falling in a shootout to the Giants on New Year’s Eve, they stormed back with a dominant 5-2 win in Wednesday Night in the Dub action. Verhoeff assisted Teydon Trembecky’s game-winning powerplay tally in the victory.

But the youngster’s best efforts came in a back-to-back home-and-away set against the league-leading Everett Silvertips. On January 3, 2025, NHL Draft-eligible Carter Bear tied the game at 1-1 to force overtime. In the extra frame, Verhoeff and newly-acquired sniper Kenta Isogai flew down the ice to create several opportunities, with Verhoeff finally banging his teammate’s rebound into the net for the win. Verhoeff was named second star of the game.

He came up big again in the rematch, where Everett held a 3-2 lead in the late goings. With less than five minutes left, Verhoeff walked the Silvertips’ blue line and rifled a shot through traffic to find the equalizer. This time, overtime wouldn’t solve anything, but the Royals would snag a second straight win over the U.S. dynamos in the shootout for a 4-3 win.

Verhoeff has 14 goals (highlighted by four game-winners) and 14 assists for 28 points in 33 games.

He has the second-most goals of any WHL rookie, sits fourth in the first-year points race and is currently riding a five-game point streak.

The Royals selected the Fort Saskatchewan, Alta. product with the fourth overall pick in the 2023 WHL Prospects draft. Verhoeff registered two assists in 12 call-up appearances in 2023-24.

In November, Verhoeff claimed gold with Canada White at the World U17 Hockey Challenge with a goal and four assists- one of which came in the championship match against Canada Red.

He’s eligible for the 2026 NHL Entry Draft.

Victoria (20-11-3-4) has points in four straight matches to sit second in the B.C. Division and fourth in the Western Conference.

The Royals hit the road for a three-game U.S. swing, starting with the Seattle Thunderbirds (12-23-2-1) on Tuesday, January 7 at 7:05 p.m. PST.

2024-25 WHL Rookie of the Week
September 23, 2024: Keaton Verhoeff, Victoria Royals
September 30, 2024: Landon DuPont, Everett Silvertips
October 7, 2024: Cooper Williams, Saskatoon Blades
October 15, 2024: Josh Banini, Moose Jaw Warriors
October 21, 2024: Gavin Garland, Tri-City Americans
October 28, 2024: Jaxon Jacobson, Brandon Wheat Kings
November 4, 2024: Gavin Garland, Tri-City Americans
November 11, 2024: Ondrej Stebetak, Portland Winterhawks
November 18, 2024: Kason Kobelka, Calgary Hitmen
November 25, 2024: Jordan Duguay, Portland Winterhawks
December 2, 2024: Jaxon Jacobson, Brandon Wheat Kings
December 9, 2024: Liam Ruck, Medicine Hat Tigers
December 16, 2024: Keaton Verhoeff, Victoria Royals
December 23, 2024: Parker Rondeau, Swift Current Broncos
December 30, 2024: Joe Iginla, Edmonton Oil Kings

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 offers a world-class player experience featuring three key cornerstones: hockey development, education, and a safe and positive environment for all participants. A diverse and inclusive organization, the WHL consists of 22 member Clubs with 16 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 close to 60 years. The WHL is also a 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.

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