The Victoria Royals made a major splash during WHL Draft day on Wednesday, landing one of the league’s top offensive stars in a blockbuster trade with the Seattle Thunderbirds.
Moments after dealing away their first-round pick in the 2026 WHL Draft, the Royals announced they had acquired forward Cameron Schmidt in exchange for the seventh overall selection and a 2028 fourth-round pick.
The 18-year-old from Prince George is coming off a dominant season in the WHL, where he led the league in goals with 51 while adding 49 assists for 100 points in 72 games.
His 100-point campaign ranked third overall in league scoring and earned him a finalist nod for WHL Player of the Year.
Schmidt is also an NHL prospect for the Dallas Stars, who selected him 94th overall in the third round of the 2025 NHL Draft.
“Cam is as dynamic of a player as there is in this league,” said Royals general manager Jake Heisinger in a statement.
“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.”
Schmidt said he is looking forward to the opportunity in Victoria.
“I’m excited for the opportunity ahead and ready to make the most of it,” he said.
Originally selected in the first round of the 2022 WHL Draft by the Vancouver Giants, Schmidt spent part of last season with Seattle after being acquired by the Thunderbirds at the trade deadline.
Over 195 career WHL games, Schmidt has recorded 123 goals and 114 assists for 237 points.
The trade signals a clear push by the Royals to contend next season, adding one of the WHL’s most dangerous scorers to an already strong returning roster.
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