Royals Sign 2023 Fourth Overall Pick Keaton Verhoeff to WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement
Verhoeff was selected fourth overall by the Royals during the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft
The Victoria Royals have signed 2023 first-round pick Keaton Verhoeff to a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement. Verhoeff was selected fourth overall by the Royals during the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft which took place on Thursday, May 11th.
Verhoeff, who hails from Fort Saskatchewan, Alberta, tallied 13 goals and 33 assists for 46 points in 27 games with RINK Hockey Academy Kelowna U15 Prep during the 2022-23 season. The right-handed defenceman, who stands at 6’3 and 190lbs, is the second highest selection in Royals history. Verhoeff finished second in CSSHL U15 Defenceman Scoring and first in CSSHL U15 Defenceman Scoring for 2023 WHL Draft Eligible players.
“We are very proud to be able to officially welcome Keaton to the Royals organization,” said Royals Assistant General Manager and Director of Player Personnel J.F. Best. “Keaton checks all the boxes. He is a person of high character with a great work ethic, who embodies what it means to be a Royal. As a player, he is a skilled defenseman with dynamic abilities and creative offensive instincts. Defensively, he plays with a good stick and is an imposing presence down low and around the net. We are excited to welcome him and the Verhoeff family to the Royals organization.”
About the Victoria Royals
The Victoria Royals are a Canadian major junior ice hockey club in the Western Hockey League (WHL) owned and operated by GSL Group. The Royals play all their home games at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre and have entered their 12th season of their existence.
About Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre
Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre (SOFMC) is designed, constructed, developed and operated by GSL Group. SOFMC is Victoria’s premier entertainment facility and the largest arena in British Columbia outside Vancouver. The state-of-the-art 7,000 seat facility is home to the Victoria Royals of the Western Hockey League and regularly hosts large-scale concerts and other special events such as figure skating, curling, plays, trade shows and conferences. SOFMC also features a fine dining Lion’s Den Restaurant, as well as retail and meeting space.
