Keaton Verhoeff is only 15 and already six-foot-three and should be towering over the Victoria Royals’ blue line from 2024-25 through at least 2027-28. The Royals selected the native of Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., fourth overall Thursday in the first round of the Western Hockey League prospects draft.
Despite his height, or maybe because of it, Verhoeff has also displayed offensive chops. That is attested by his 13 goals, 33 assists for 46 points in 27 regular-season games and seven points in five playoff games this season for the Kelowna Rink Hockey Academy U-15 Prep team and his 13 goals, 23 assists for 37 points in 34 games for the Fort Saskatchewan ABU U-15s in 2021-22.
“It was such an exciting moment to see your name called,” said Verhoeff.
He started off as a goaltender from age five to 11 and only switched to the blue line at age 12.
“It’s an unusual move but I said why not try playing out?”
It certainly worked out. But those old goaltending ways are still in the genes, even for an offensive-minded blue-liner.
“I like keeping the puck out of our net even more than [scoring goals at the other end],” said Verhoeff.
“I use my size to help in that aspect of my game.”
J.F. Best, Royals assistant GM and director of player personnel, said the 191-pound Verhoeff “checks all the boxes.”
Victoria head coach and GM Dan Price agrees: “He is extremely athletic with mobility and strength. He was one of the top-scoring defencemen in the draft but he also punishes guys down low [around the net].”
The Royals selected Kash Alger-East from Meadow Lake, Sask., 25th overall in the second round. The five-foot-11 centre had 35 goals, 44 assists for 79 points in 28 games this season for the Battlefords North West Stars U-15 AA team.
“He is an explosive player,” said Price.
Victoria in the third round went with goaltender Cole Prelusky from the Edge School U-15s of Calgary, 62nd overall. The Royals had two fourth-round selections and took Trail defenceman Owen McCarthy 69th overall out of Rink in Kelowna and Cloverdale winger Harshaan Kaila out of St. George’s.
The Royals mopped up the draft with centre Nolan Stewart of Northern Alberta Xtreme 104th in the fifth round, winger Kadyn O’Brien from Okanagan Academy Prep 113th in the sixth round, six-foot-two defenceman William Ren of White Rock 157th in the eighth round, winger Mathieu Lajoie of St. Albert U-15 Sabres 179th in the ninth round, American defenceman Tyler McCracken from Shattuck-St. Mary’s 201st in the 10th round and six-foot-four defenceman Henry Liu of St. George’s 223rd in the 11th round.
The Prince Albert Raiders had the first two selections and picked defenceman Daxon Rudolph from the Northern Alberta Xtreme U-15 Prep team first overall and centre Riley Boychuk from the Airdrie, Alta., Xtreme U-15 AAA team second overall. Centre Mathis Preston from Okanagan Hockey Academy U-15 Prep went third overall to the Spokane Chiefs.
Centre Noah Kosick of the Langford-based Pacific Coast Hockey Academy, top-ranked heading into the draft, went 11th overall to the Calgary Hitmen. It seems some teams, including the hometown Royals, could not overlook his current lack of size or that he is also considering the U.S. collegiate NCAA. The Islander is listed as five-foot-five and 112 pounds but has high-end speed and a deadly release. The family has a history, however, with the NCAA as dad Mark Kosick came out of Victoria to win a Frozen Four championship with the University of Michigan Wolverines before a pro career in the ECHL and Germany. Noah Kosick said he has yet to choose between the WHL and NCAA.
“It’s 50-50. I’m looking at both and will make a decision when the time comes,” he said.
“Calgary is one of the best organizations in the WHL with a proven record of producing pro players, up to the NHL.”
Added dad Mark Kosick: “If there’s a city that would be on the top of any list in which to play in the WHL, it’s Calgary. That certainly helps [in the decision]. We’ll see how big and strong Noah gets over the next six months and go from there.”
There were two Island players taken in the first round with six-foot-two blue-liner Giorgos Pantelas from Victoria, out of the Rink Academy in Kelowna, going 19th overall to the Brandon Wheat Kings.
Six-foot-three winger Gavin Lesiuk from Duncan, out of the Okanagan Hockey Academy, went 36th overall in the second round to the Lethbridge Hurricanes. Defenceman Riley Steen of Ladysmith, out of the Okanagan Hockey Academy, was selected 127th in the sixth round by Medicine Hat Tigers.
