Victoria Royals 2024-25
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We have a trade: Royals Acquire Deagan McMillan and Two Draft Picks in Exchange for Austin Zemlak
Royals GM Jake Heisinger had this to say about the trade: "We felt we needed to add to our top 6 forward group and to do so we had to move a really good player and person in Austin. Deagan can play both centre and wing and adds skill and grit to our lineup. We look forward to welcoming him to Victoria."
This trade does leave a hole in the depth chart at D, with Zemlak previously being slated to play 2LD. There aren't any obvious successors to this role, so there will probably be competition between Jarrett Ross, and Matthew Keller, unless they plan to bring back Spizawka as an overager.
They definitely needed some more scoring after their leading scorer last year, Pasternak, aged out, so getting Deagan will help. There are some F prospects coming soon, but the Royals need to help Reschny out now. The Royals were also noticeably small last year, so I'm not surprised their GM was looking to add some size up front.
Royals GM Jake Heisinger had this to say about the trade: "We felt we needed to add to our top 6 forward group and to do so we had to move a really good player and person in Austin. Deagan can play both centre and wing and adds skill and grit to our lineup. We look forward to welcoming him to Victoria."
This trade does leave a hole in the depth chart at D, with Zemlak previously being slated to play 2LD. There aren't any obvious successors to this role, so there will probably be competition between Jarrett Ross, and Matthew Keller, unless they plan to bring back Spizawka as an overager.
They definitely needed some more scoring after their leading scorer last year, Pasternak, aged out, so getting Deagan will help. There are some F prospects coming soon, but the Royals need to help Reschny out now. The Royals were also noticeably small last year, so I'm not surprised their GM was looking to add some size up front.
The Royals signed their import draft selection, Markus Loponen.
This is a massive addition for the Royals, who needed some help at C, to give the Royals a 1-2 punch down the middle with Reschny, and Loponen fits that role perfectly.
This is the blurb written about the signing:
This is a massive addition for the Royals, who needed some help at C, to give the Royals a 1-2 punch down the middle with Reschny, and Loponen fits that role perfectly.
This is the blurb written about the signing:
Interested to see how Victoria shakes out, the team has been wandering in the wilderness for too many years. Would like to see a direction/identity from them now that Dan Price is out. James Patrick should help with that!
Kraus + Michnik is not an inspiring tandem, neither looked particularly good last year in my viewings of both.
McMillan from Tri-City regressed stats-wise last year, but who didn't on TC? There's another team that has been wandering clueless the past couple of years, too. Zemlak is a bit of a loss but at this point I assume TC loses every trade they make. (No offense to any in-house Americans fans.)
Let the kids play, Reschny is a stud.
Kraus + Michnik is not an inspiring tandem, neither looked particularly good last year in my viewings of both.
McMillan from Tri-City regressed stats-wise last year, but who didn't on TC? There's another team that has been wandering clueless the past couple of years, too. Zemlak is a bit of a loss but at this point I assume TC loses every trade they make. (No offense to any in-house Americans fans.)
Let the kids play, Reschny is a stud.
We have a trade: Royals Acquire Cosmo Wilson and 9th Round Draft Pick in Exchange for Deegan Kinniburgh and Two Draft Picks
Royals GM Jake Heisinger had this to say about the trade: "Cosmo played an important role for Moose Jaw down the stretch en route to a WHL Championship and Memorial Cup appearance." Said Royals General Manager Jake Heisinger. "Being able to add a player that brings Championship experience to our group will be very beneficial both on and off the ice."
Wilson is a 6'1" RD veteran who will probably play on the 2nd pair with Verhoeff, unless they plan on having Verhoeff play 3RD. I don't like the idea of having a righty-righty pairing, but that's just my opinion. This move is another signal that the Royals are trying to get better now, and want to improve on their season last year. Kinniburgh is going into his sophomore season, and was likely going to be on the Royals 3rd line.
The picks exchanged were a 9th rounder in 2026 going to the Royals, and the Royals sent back a 4th round pick in 2025, and a 6th round pick in 2026. This is a little odd, because as far as I am aware, the Royals didn't have a 2025 4th round pick, because they traded it away in a 2022 trade that saw them send the pick away for Teague Patton. Regardless, the Royals have several extra picks in the upcoming 2025 draft, owning their own 1st, 3 2nds, and 2 3rds.
Royals GM Jake Heisinger had this to say about the trade: "Cosmo played an important role for Moose Jaw down the stretch en route to a WHL Championship and Memorial Cup appearance." Said Royals General Manager Jake Heisinger. "Being able to add a player that brings Championship experience to our group will be very beneficial both on and off the ice."
Wilson is a 6'1" RD veteran who will probably play on the 2nd pair with Verhoeff, unless they plan on having Verhoeff play 3RD. I don't like the idea of having a righty-righty pairing, but that's just my opinion. This move is another signal that the Royals are trying to get better now, and want to improve on their season last year. Kinniburgh is going into his sophomore season, and was likely going to be on the Royals 3rd line.
The picks exchanged were a 9th rounder in 2026 going to the Royals, and the Royals sent back a 4th round pick in 2025, and a 6th round pick in 2026. This is a little odd, because as far as I am aware, the Royals didn't have a 2025 4th round pick, because they traded it away in a 2022 trade that saw them send the pick away for Teague Patton. Regardless, the Royals have several extra picks in the upcoming 2025 draft, owning their own 1st, 3 2nds, and 2 3rds.
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BE Friend
Registered User
- Jul 16, 2021
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Greatest name in the league. Mom and Dad def Seinfeld fans. Cosmo. Even got the spelling right. VIC is trying at least, Are they ready for Prime Time?
Harshaan Kaila had a great training camp, and I think he has a chance of making the team this year despite still being 15. It's possible he would be better served being the top dog on a U18 team, rather than being in the bottom 6 for the Royals, so perhaps the Royals will send him back to St. George for that reason.
EDIT: Bad take after he was in the first round of cuts. Hopefully he has a great year.
EDIT: Bad take after he was in the first round of cuts. Hopefully he has a great year.
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The team should be fully loaded for next game, after getting back Kipke (now the captain). It has been a great start to the season for the Royals, and it looks like they should be a clear playoff team. With only having 2 overagers, I think they'll be in the market to acquire another to bolster their forward group. Personally, Kenta Isogai on Portland looks to me like the perfect target. Portland is rebuilding and don't have many other players that have trade value, and Isogai is a high-end overager on a team that's not going to make the playoffs. Yager would be another option, but I think the price will be too high, and I suspect he will not be back for his 20 year old season.
We have a trade: Royals Acquire Brayden Boehm from Medicine Hat Tigers
Royals GM Jake Heisinger had this to say about the trade, "Brayden is a player that we feel will add offense to our team." said Royals General Manager Jake Heisinger. "We are excited to be able to bring him home to finish out his junior career."
Boehm is 6'0", 188lbs, and plays both wings. He is the third 20 year old on the Royals roster, which brings them up to the maximum allowed. They gave up a 2026 3rd, and a conditional 5th in 2027, although the conditions are unknown at this time. Extremely reasonable price for the Royals to pay, as they have extra draft capital from previous years. I really like this trade.
Royals GM Jake Heisinger had this to say about the trade, "Brayden is a player that we feel will add offense to our team." said Royals General Manager Jake Heisinger. "We are excited to be able to bring him home to finish out his junior career."
Boehm is 6'0", 188lbs, and plays both wings. He is the third 20 year old on the Royals roster, which brings them up to the maximum allowed. They gave up a 2026 3rd, and a conditional 5th in 2027, although the conditions are unknown at this time. Extremely reasonable price for the Royals to pay, as they have extra draft capital from previous years. I really like this trade.
They went and got him! Glad they picked him up, I think he's the perfect addition to this team. The Royals had 3 2nds in the 2025 draft, so with that being the biggest piece we gave up, I think this trade is great. Not sure why I was saying Portland, when I was meaning Wenatchee, but whatever, lol.
Like these moves for the Royals, i.e., with the upcoming home-and-home with the Tips I'm really not a fan of these moves. 
Victoria continues to add with the addition of veteran forward Lisowsky.
Probably ends the Royals trade deadline, and the additions of Lisowsky and Isogai make the Royals contenders this year. Excellent deadline from the GM, getting two 1st line forwards for 3 2nds and a 3rd. The Royals had 2 extra 2nds this year, and they have an extra 1st next year. Their 2nd this year is MJs, so it's basically a late 1st.
Very excited for the rest of this season, I think they're going to be a force, and Heisinger did it all without emptying the cupboards. Royals had an excellent draft last year, and will have lots of reinforcements coming next year. Great time to be a Royals fan.
This Royals-Tips game is absolutely phenomenal, tight playoff atmosphere. Not many teams have made the Tips look decisively like the 2nd best team on the ice but Victoria has done it in 3 straight regulation periods. (3rd in Nov., first 2 tonight).
Isogai has had moments but been mostly quiet. Lisowski has been a menace this game tho.
This team definitely looks ready to win a couple of playoff rounds. James Patrick is doing a great job getting buy-in up and down the lineup. It's amazing what wonders a good coach can do for a team. (Side-eyes towards Dave Cameron.)
Isogai has had moments but been mostly quiet. Lisowski has been a menace this game tho.
This team definitely looks ready to win a couple of playoff rounds. James Patrick is doing a great job getting buy-in up and down the lineup. It's amazing what wonders a good coach can do for a team. (Side-eyes towards Dave Cameron.)
Epic first game after making two big trades. OT win against Everett, with Isogai and Lisowsky assisting on the OT winner by Verhoeff.
Multiple nice plays on the goal from Verhoeff, he's so good. Great feed to Isogai, looking off the pass, then nice tenacity to find the loose puck and bury the winner.
Multiple nice plays on the goal from Verhoeff, he's so good. Great feed to Isogai, looking off the pass, then nice tenacity to find the loose puck and bury the winner.
Verhoeff is unbelievable. If it wasn't for McKenna he would have some serious buzz around going first overall in 2026.
