Cole Reschny’s name won’t just be called early at the NHL Draft – it’ll be etched into Victoria Royals history.
The standout centre is expected to become the highest-drafted player in franchise history when the 2025 draft begins Friday, June 27 in Los Angeles.
The 18-year-old led the Royals with 92 points in 62 games this season, including a franchise-record 66 assists.
He’s ranked 25th among North American skaters by NHL Central Scouting – a significant jump from his mid-season slot at 34 – and could go in the latter half of the first round.
Goals? He scores them.
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) June 11, 2025
Assists? He collects them.
18-year-old Cole Reschny can do it all!@victoriaroyals | #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/kp95iwBpr3
Canadian teams will have five selections between spots 15 and 21, including Vancouver at 15 and Calgary at 18, which could set the stage for a potential homegrown headline.
Reschny, who hails from Macklin, Sask., also boosted his stock with a standout performance at the U18 World Championships in April, where he put up eight points in five games to help Canada win gold.
He’s set to play next season at the University of North Dakota (NCAA) and will be a name to watch for the 2026 World Junior team.
At 5'10" and 187 pounds, Reschny is known for his vision, IQ, and elite passing game.
“He spaces the ice well, always positioned to be the link between two teammates,” reads the Elite Prospects draft guide. “A highly detailed player… he makes a lot of subtle plays to create dangerous offence.”
The Royals have had 14 players drafted since arriving in Victoria in 2011, but none earlier than 67th overall (Keegan Kanzig, 2013).
That mark is almost certain to fall Friday.
Reschny isn’t the only Royals player drawing NHL interest.
Goaltender Jayden Kraus enters the weekend ranked 12th among North American goalies after his first full season as a WHL starter.
The 18-year-old from Prince Albert, Sask. played 46 games and posted a 2.86 goals-against average and .908 save percentage, becoming a steady presence in Victoria’s crease.
At 6'2" and 207 pounds, Kraus is the third-highest ranked WHL goalie in the class – only behind Joshua Ravensbergen (Prince George), and Ondrej Stebetak (Portland) – and could become the first netminder in Royals history to be drafted.
He was a third-round pick by the club in the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft.
Goaltending Royals-ty is headed to Los Angeles!
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) June 17, 2025
18-year-old Jayden Kraus is up for grabs at the 2025 NHL Draft.@victoriaroyals | #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/HHaAqlFNGg
Another Royal, forward Caleb Matthews, is listed at 220th among North American skaters.
He posted six goals and 16 points in 60 games this season. The 6'1" winger is considered a long shot to be selected but could draw late-round interest based on his size and two-way game.
Matthews, a Calgary, Alta. product, was a fifth-round pick by the Royals in 2022.
Outside the WHL's Royals, a handful of BCHL products with Island ties are also hoping to hear their names called.
Drew Hockley, a 6'3" defenceman who played two seasons with the Victoria Grizzlies before heading to Quinnipiac University (NCAA), is ranked 189th.
If he goes undrafted, he’s still expected to land a development camp invite next month.
Richard Baran, a 19-year-old Slovakian blueliner who played the 2023-24 season with the Grizzlies, is ranked 145th.
Known for his steady defensive play, Baran represented Slovakia at the World Juniors and is committed to the University of Arizona (NCAA) for next season.
Dennison Monahan, another Grizzlies defender, isn’t ranked but has drawn NHL interest.
The 6'5", 212-pound Princeton commit recorded 13 assists in 54 games this year and could be in line for a development camp invite if he isn’t selected. He is committed to Princeton (NCAA) for 2026-27.
“Several NHL teams had eyes on him throughout the season,” Grizzlies president David Michaud said.
The Grizzlies are no strangers to draft success – past alumni include Alex Newhook, Jamie and Jordie Benn, and Tyler Bozak.
Over in the Cowichan Valley, 18-year-old Hayden Russell is also on the radar despite not being ranked by Central Scouting. The Huntington Beach, Calif. native put up 56 points in 53 games in his first BCHL season with the Capitals and added another 12 in 11 playoff games.
He played this year alongside his brothers, Brendan and Garrett.
It could be a homecoming of sorts for Russell, who grew up just down the road from Peacock Theatre in Los Angeles.
And then there’s Hornby Island’s Tommy Lafreniere.
The Kamloops Blazers forward jumped nearly 30 spots in the rankings after a 56-point rookie season and now sits at No. 57 among North American skaters.
Lafreniere appeared in all 68 games for Kamloops and could be the second Island connection taken after Reschny.
The 2025 NHL Draft runs June 27-28, with rounds one taking place on Friday, and two through seven taking place on Saturday.
While players will make their way to Los Angeles, the 2025 Draft is de-centralized, meaning that hockey operations staff will make their selections remotely, while players await to hear their names called.
If the projections hold, it could be one of the most Island-heavy classes in recent memory.
