ROYALS’ CHAZ
REDDEKOPP AND EVAN SMITH SELECTED IN 2015 NHL DRAFT
Victoria’s
Reddekopp and Smith drafted 187th and 205th overall by the Los Angeles Kings
and Nashville Predators.
For
Immediate Release
Saturday,
June 27, 2015
Victoria,
BC- The Victoria
Royals are proud to announce that defenceman Chaz Reddekopp was drafted 187th
overall by the Los Angeles Kings and goaltender Evan Smith was selected 205th
overall by the Nashville Predators in the 2015 National Hockey League (NHL)
Draft in Sunrise, Florida today.
Reddekopp
and Smith became the fifth and sixth players in Victoria Royals’ history to be
drafted by an NHL team. Steven Hodges became the first Royals’ player to be
drafted when he was selected 84th overall by the Florida Panthers in
the 2012 NHL Entry Draft.
“We are
very proud of Chaz and Evan,” General Manager Cameron Hope said. “They are both
dedicated athletes who continue to work very hard toward a professional career.
Being selected in the NHL Draft is exciting recognition of that hard work, and
these young men are very deserving of the recognition.”
Chaz
Reddekopp
Reddekopp,
a 6-3, 215 lb defender recently completed his second season with the Royals and
registered 21 points (5g-16a) and 53 penalty minutes in 72 contests. Reddekopp
also skated in 10 post-season games with Victoria and notched two assists to go
along with 12 minutes in penalties.
“It’s a
tremendous feeling to hear your name called,” Reddekopp said from his home in
West Kelowna, BC. “I am excited and happy to be going to a great organization
like the Los Angeles Kings. It’s a huge honour.”
The Royals’
blueliner has appeared in 113 regular season games in his Western Hockey League
(WHL) career and has 30 points (6g-24a) and 86 penalty minutes. He has also
played in 12 games in the WHL Playoffs where he has collected two assists and
12 minutes in penalties.
Reddekopp
also represented Team Pacific at the 2014 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge,
where he captured a silver medal.
Evan
Smith
A product
of Parker, CO, Smith split the 2014-15 season between the Royals and the Austin
Bruins of the North American Hockey League (NAHL).
Smith
appeared in four games for Victoria last season and posted a 1-1-0-0 record to
go along with a 4.20 goals against average (GAA) and .864 save percentage
(SV%).
“I’m
enjoying this moment,” Smith said from his home in Parker, CO. “To be drafted
by Nashville is a great feeling and opportunity, but the real work begins now.”
In 15 games
with the Bruins, the 6-6, 174 lb netminder collected a 12-1-2-0 record with a
1.73 GAA, a .923 SV% and one shutout. Smith helped the Bruins to a second
consecutive NAHL Finals appearance. In six games played during the NAHL
playoffs Smith posted a 4-1-0-0 mark to go along with a 2.10 GAA and .914 SV%.
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