If you are 20 years old and still in the Western Hockey League, your career trajectory is probably to the AHL, ECHL, Europe or U Sports. But never underestimate the value that so-called over-agers have in the WHL as 20-year-olds usually have major impact seasons in tearing through 16-, 17- and 18-year-olds, even those headed to the NHL but who have not yet reached maturation. That’s why only three 20-year-olds are allowed per WHL team.
The Victoria Royals find themselves with five 20-year-old players, following the trade Tuesday with the Kelowna Rockets for forward Jake Poole for an eighth-round selection in the 2024 WHL prospects draft.
Teams must be down to their declared three over-agers by midnight next Tuesday. The trade leaves forwards Poole, Riley Gannon and Caleb Willms, defenceman Anson McMaster and goaltender Campbell Arnold as the 20-year-olds on the Victoria roster. Two of them will have to go.
“It is another person that has been thrown into the on-going competition within our team,” said Royals GM and head coach Dan Price.
“This is always a really tough time of the year in terms of the 20-year-old decisions.”
Poole was a Royals killer last season for the Rockets with 20 points and eight goals against Victoria. Consider that he only had a total of 32 points and 14 goals in 48 games.
“We’ve noticed him. Let’s just put it that way,” said Price, with a pained chuckle.
The six-foot-two, 200-pound Poole has 21 goals and 59 points in 124 career games with the Rockets the past four seasons, including a goal and assist in two games this season.
“We have always thought highly of him as a big, physical forward who can score and fit in well with our group,” said Price.
Kelowna team president and GM Bruce Hamilton, in a statement, described Poole as “a loyal and dedicated Rocket.”
As fate would have it, the Royals (0-4) are in Kelowna to play the Rockets (1-1-1) tonight, with the Manitoba-native Poole expected to dress for Victoria against his former team.
“It’s an unbelievable scenario. He went from his billets house and down the road to our hotel,” said Price.
