Victoria Royals season ends with optimism as team eyes key draft additions

The Victoria Royals saw their season come to a heartbreaking end last Saturday night, falling 2-1 to the Prince George Cougars in a must-win game at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.

Heading into the final weekend, Victoria needed both a win and a loss by the Portland Winterhawks to secure a playoff berth. While Portland did lose, it came in overtime, earning them the single point needed to stay ahead of the Royals in the standings.

In front of 5,229 fans, Victoria’s season ended with the club finishing ninth in the Western Conference with 66 points, narrowly missing the playoffs. The Winterhawks claimed the eighth and final spot with 68 points, while the Seattle Thunderbirds secured seventh with 72.

The result marked a stunning shift from expectations entering the year.

Fresh off a strong 2024/25 campaign that saw the Royals advance to the second round of the playoffs, many believed the team was poised to take another step forward, with some even projecting a run to the 2026 WHL final.

Instead, the season took an early and unexpected turn.

Six key returning players departed for the NCAA ahead of the season, including Calgary Flames first-round pick Cole Reschny and projected top-five 2026 NHL Draft selection Keaton Verhoeff. Both players have since joined the University of North Dakota and captured bronze with Canada at the 2026 World Junior Championship.

The sudden loss of top-end talent forced Victoria into a quick retool, and while the team managed to remain competitive, the challenge was compounded by a string of injuries down the stretch.

Despite the disappointment, the Royals showed promising signs for the years ahead.

17-year-old Nolan Stewart emerged as one of the team’s top offensive threats, finishing second in team scoring with 50 points and earning attention ahead of this year’s NHL Draft.

The club also saw strong development from its younger core.

16-year-old Ludovic Perreault impressed with 20 goals, showcasing a pro-style shot and stride, while Mill Bay product Eli McKamey, a projected 2027 NHL first-round pick and University of North Dakota commit, continued his progression and is expected to spend at least another season in the WHL.

On the blue line, defenceman Tim Runtso proved to be one of the biggest surprises of the season. The California native arrived largely unheralded but climbed to number 53 among North American skaters in NHL Central Scouting rankings.

Like several others, he is also committed to the NCAA, set to join Miami of Ohio.

The Royals will also say goodbye to several veteran players graduating from junior hockey.

Roan Woodward, the team’s leading scorer with 32 goals and 56 points, will move on alongside captain Reggie Newman and defenceman Cosmo Wilson. Victoria product Seth Fryer is also set to continue his career in the NCAA with the University of Alaska-Fairbanks.

Replacing that leadership and production will be a key challenge heading into next season.

There was some optimism off the ice Thursday night as the WHL Prospects Draft Lottery unfolded.

Victoria will hold two first-round selections in the upcoming draft, picking fifth overall (via Moose Jaw) and seventh overall.

The lottery ultimately saw the Kelowna Rockets secure the first overall pick, followed by the Vancouver Giants at number two and the Wenatchee Wild at number three .

Victoria entered the lottery with four balls in the hopper, including additional odds acquired through a previous trade with the Moose Jaw Warriors. While the Royals were unable to move up into the top three, holding two picks inside the top seven provides a significant opportunity to add high-end talent.

Top prospects expected to be selected early include forwards Parker McMillan and Madden Danault, both highly regarded U-15 players.

The Royals’ season also highlighted a growing challenge across the WHL.

Recent rule changes allowing players to move to the NCAA have introduced a new layer of uncertainty for teams. High draft picks and developed players can now leave for US college programs, as seen with both Reschny and Verhoeff.

It’s a shift that is forcing WHL clubs to adapt their roster-building strategies, placing greater importance on depth, scouting, and development.

While missing the playoffs stings, the Royals appear to have a foundation to build on.

With a strong group of young players, valuable draft capital, and lessons learned from a season filled with adversity, the focus now shifts to retooling for a return to contention.

If Victoria can find more hidden gems like Runtso and continue developing its emerging core, the setback of 2025/26 could prove to be just a temporary detour.