Defenceman Brock Cripps of Victoria, who has been described as “fearless,” will give Western Hockey League opponents plenty to fear in future seasons. Cripps became the highest Island player ever selected in the WHL prospects draft when he was taken second overall Thursday by the Prince Albert Raiders.
“This is another step to making the NHL, which is my goal for the future,” said the Juan de Fuca Minor Hockey Association product.
On the all-time Island WHL draft list, Cripps topped defenceman Josh Anderson of Duncan, selected third overall by the Prince George Cougars in 2013, forward Ollie Josephson of Victoria, taken fifth overall by the Red Deer Rebels in 2021 and forward Noah Kosick of Victoria, projected first but selected 11 overall in 2023 by the Calgary Hitmen due to him considering the NCAA, the option he eventually took with the University of Michigan Wolverines.
Cripps had 25 goals and 76 points in just 26 games this season for the St. George’s School U-15 Prep team in Vancouver to lead the league in scoring, an impressive feat for a rearguard. Hardly surprisingly, his position role models include Cale Makar, Quinn Hughes and Adam Fox, with Makar a particular favourite.
“My strengh is making plays under pressure,” said Cripps, who will be represented by Bayne Pettinger.
Dad Russ Cripps was a notable soccer player out of Nanaimo and both sports run passionately in the family with one of Brock’s older brothers, Brady Cripps, a soccer player with Gorge FC and the other, Boston Cripps, a hockey player with the South Island Royals. Brock Cripps also played soccer at Juan de Fuca up to age 12 before choosing hockey, which looks to have been the smart move.
“[Cripps] has ice-cold veins,” Raiders director of player personnel Bruno Zarrillo said in a statement. “Nothing rattles this kid. He’s fearless. He’s offensive and brings superstar power from the back end.”
The mobile Island blue-liner went right after the Everett Silvertips selected Landon DuPont first overall. The prodigy blue-liner out of Calgary is only the second player to be granted exceptional status and allowed to play in the WHL as a 15-year-old. The other was NHL rookie star Connor Bedard.
The Tri-City Americans concluded the trifecta of defencemen taken with the first three picks when they opted for Aden Bouchard from Airdrie, Alta.
The Victoria Royals had two first-round selections, taking forward Jacob Schwartz eighth overall with their own slot, and forward Ludovic Perreault 18th overall in a pick acquired from a trade with the Moose Jaw Warriors.
Schwartz played with Cripps at St. George’s and had 30 goals and 56 points in 26 games.
“Jacob is a dynamic player and the Royals got a good one,” said Cripps.
Perreault, meanwhile, had a head-spinning 67 goals and 92 points in 32 games for the Winnipeg Bruins U-15 Triple-A team. Both Schwartz and Perreault are fleet-footed five-foot-nine, 150-pounders and the Royals believe they have their offensive spine of the future up the middle.
“We got two centremen back-to-back who are going to push the pace for us in future seasons,” said Royals head scout Tanner McCall.
“Schwartz is going to be a heck of a player in the WHL. He has nice hands in finishing with goals and is also a great passer who will help others with his assists. He will be a fan favourite in Victoria. Perreault, meanwhile, is an absolute work horse and can really shoot the puck.”
The Royals also had two second-round selections and stayed on the Island in going for six-foot-one, 174-pound forward Eli McKamey from Cowichan Bay with the 35th overall pick. He plays for the Shawnigan Lake U-18 Prep team and had 23 goals and 48 points in 28 games.
“Eli will be a top-six forward for us,” said McCall.
“You are going to see McKamey, Schwartz and Perreault all over WHL score sheets in a couple of years.”
Two picks later in the second round, the Royals went for six-foot defenceman Koltin Herfst from Fraser Valley Thunderbirds U-15 team, who had nine goals and 35 points in 28 games.
Victoria selected 11 players: six forwards, four defencemen and one goaltender. These players are 14-and-15 years-old and are one, two or three seasons away from joining the Royals.
But a trade made Thursday will have an immediate impact next season as the Royals acquired six-foot-two goaltender Spencer Michnik from the Seattle Thunderbirds for a conditional seventh round pick in the 2025 WHL draft. Michnik played 21 games for the rebuilding Thunderbirds last season as a WHL rookie with a 6-9-1 record, 4.60 goals against average and .868 save percentage.
That gives some stability to a young Victoria crease that includes returning Jayden Kraus, who was a 17-year-old rookie last season, and incoming six-foot-eight Ryan Tamelin, the 29th ranked North American goaltender for this year’s NHL draft.
“With Braden Holt graduating, the starting goaltending role is open,” said McCall. “It’s about competition. There is a battle and an opportunity here. This gives us depth and three goalies who can play in the WHL.”
