Jayden Kraus, a native of Prince Albert, Sask., still mentions “out here” when talking about the Island and his Victoria Royals career. But the Western Hockey League sophomore is steadily growing roots in the crease area on Blanshard Street as Victoria’s current and goaltender of the future. The 18-year-old is blooming and could, tongue-in-cheek, even be named as part of the annual Victoria winter flower count.
Kraus was announced Monday as WHL goaltender of the week, ending Jan. 12 for his downright stingy goals-against-average of 1.67 and save percentage of .932 in three wins on the Royals’ U.S. Division road swing. It was part of a wider run in which Kraus has backstopped Victoria to six consecutive victories. He is second in the WHL in both goals-against average and save percentage at 2.66 and .912, respectively.
Kraus’ play hasn’t gone unnoticed as he has moved up to No. 11 on Central Scouting’s mid-season rankings, released Tuesday, of North American goaltenders for the 2025 NHL draft. Kraus is the third-ranked WHL goaltender on the list behind overall top-ranked Joshua Ravensbergen of the Prince George Cougars and No. 6 overall Ondrej Stebetak of the Portland Winterhawks.
“I don’t pay too much attention to [awards and rankings]. I just focus on what’s at task here,” said the emerging six-foot-two crease-man Kraus, ahead of tonight’s game at Save-on-Foods Memorial Centre against the Brandon Wheat Kings.
“Last season was a big learning year for me and this season is just a continuation of that and about getting better and better each day. I learned a lot from [graduated Braden Holt] last season. He was a great mentor for me, especially about stuff you do off the ice like taking care of your body day-to-day.”
That is evident in Kraus’ workhorse-like 32 appearances this season.
“I would play every night if I could,” said Kraus, who loves playing paddle sports such as table tennis and pickleball to keep his reflexes sharp.
Royals head coach James Patrick said: “It wasn’t the plan to play Jayden [Kraus] as much as we have but he’s really responded. Last year, playing under Braden Holt was an eye-opener for him but a great experience for him, and he’s taken his game to a whole new level this season. He has earned the starts.”
Kraus, selected by the Royals in the third round of the 2021 WHL prospects draft, is no longer losing his net as he did at times in his rookie season: “It comes down to not overplaying and breaking structure. That’s definitely one of the areas I’ve improved on this season,” he said.
Kraus, meanwhile, has experienced some turmoil regarding his back-ups this season. Spencer Michnik, who made 12 appearances for the Royals with a 3.77 goals-against average in going 5-5-1, was released last week and has signed with the Sherwood Park Crusaders of the BCHL as the Royals have decided to go with recently-signed Johnny Hicks to back up Kraus. The five-foot-10 Hicks was a BCHL all-star who had an eye-catching 1.37 goals-against average and .943 save percentage in 21 games this season for the Brooks Bandits. The 19-year-old is committed to NCAA Div. 1 Tennessee State.
“It was sad to see Spencer [Michnik] go. We had a great relationship. I wish him all the best,” said Kraus, whose favourite goalie growing up was: “Jonathan Quick in his prime because he was so flexible and sensational to watch.”
“In terms of Johnny [Hicks], we’ve had a great relationship so far, too. I’m excited to see what the stretch drive has in store for us. I think we’re going to make a great tandem.”
Meanwhile, Central Scouting has dropped Royals forward Cole Reschny out of his previous first-round ranking position for the 2025 NHL draft and has listed him as the 34th North American skater in the mid-season list released Tuesday, which projects Reschny for the second round.
“There’s a lot of hockey left. I know he’s going to be a better player by the end of the season. He works extremely hard and is a smart player. He’s going to be there at the end of the day,” said Royals bench-boss Patrick, a 21-season former NHLer and first-round selection, ninth overall, in the 1981 NHL draft.
“[The ranking] doesn’t matter. You can get drafted in the second round, and somebody else in the first round, and two years later you can be on the world junior team and the other guy not. Five years later, a guy who gets drafted in the third round could be the best under-23 player in the NHL and the first-rounder isn’t.”
ICE CHIPS: Reschny and Kraus are among the 66 WHL players ranked by Central Scouting in its mid-season rankings for the 2025 NHL draft. Heading the WHL continent is No. 5 overall ranked North American skater Roger McQueen of the Wheat Kings (19-13-5), who will not be skating tonight on Blanshard against the surging Royals (23-11-7). A load at six-foot-five, McQueen had eight goals in eight games before going out long term with injury early in the season and has not returned.
