Royals Sign U.S. Priority Draft Selection Cruz Waltze to WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement
Waltze was Selected 2nd Overall by the Royals in the 2023 U.S. Priority Draft
The Victoria Royals announced the signing of 2008-born forward Cruz Waltze to a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement. Hailing from Richland, Washington, the forward was selected by the Royals with the 2nd overall pick in the 2023 U.S. Priority Draft which took place Wednesday, May 10th. Waltze spent the 2022-23 season with RINK Hockey Academy Kelowna U15 Prep, where he tallied 24 goals and 22 assists for 46 points in 28 games. Waltze led RINK Hockey Academy Kelowna U15 Prep in playoff scoring, tallying 14 points in 5 games, as well as tied for first in CSSHL U15 playoff scoring.
“We are thrilled to be able to select Cruz with the 2nd overall pick and welcome him and his family to Victoria. Cruz is a well-rounded person who’s had a great year at the U15 level and raised his game during the CSSHL playoffs. As a player, he combines a tenacious compete level with playmaking and a deft touch around the net. It’ll be fun to watch him develop in the years to come,” said Royals Assistant General Manager & Director of Player Personnel, J.F. Best.
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.
