The Victoria Royals traded for the rights to crafty forward Evan Richardson on Wednesday but he likely will not play with the Western Hockey League team this year.
The 18-year-old Richardson is currently with the Powell River Kings of the sa国际传媒 Hockey League and is committed to play NCAA for Boston College next year.
"Evan is not expected to report to our camp but if he has a change of heart, we'd welcome him,'' said Royals' general manager Cam Hope. "Everybody's plans do change and he is just the type of player that is worth having on your list.''
To obtain the rights for Richardson, the Royals sent forward Justin Spagrud and a conditional pick to the Swift Current Broncos.
Last year in Powell River, Richardson had 19 goals and 36 assists in 48 regular-season games. He also collected nine points in the playoffs as the Kings reached the Fred Page Cup final before losing to the Penticton Vees.
Richardson, who was born in Nanaimo, played the 2010-11 BCHL season with the Victoria Grizzlies, collecting 42 points.
Richardson was selected in the first round of the 2009 WHL Bantam Draft (15th overall).
Spagrud, 17, who is from Gull Lake, Sask., spent the 2011-12 season with the Swift Current Legionnaires Midget triple-A team. Spagrud came to the Royals organization in 2011 after a trade with the Tri-City Americans for defenceman Mitch Topping.
The Royals return to exhibition action Friday in Maple Ridge against the Kelowna Rockets.
