Andy Devlin

Victoria Royals acquire Kade Jensen from Brandon Wheat Kings

The Victoria Royals pulled off a surprising trade on Friday, acquiring defenceman Kade Jensen from the Brandon Wheat Kings. A trade itself would not be abnormal, but the interesting part is that Jensen is an over-age player, bumping the Royals above the allowed maximum of three 20-year-olds. Included is Tyler Soy, who this week set the new franchise record for most career points.

Chaz Reddekopp is Victoria’s current 20-year-old defenceman, and has shown the expected offense, defense and leadership since returning from time with the Ontario Reign of the AHL.

Victoria’s third over-ager is Regan Nagy, who is having a good season, a sudden sniper who had an early 18 goals in 26 games played. Unfortunately Nagy injured a finger while blocking a shot versus Moose Jaw on Tuesday night and is now expected to miss up to six weeks. It’s a literal bad break for the forward as he was having a breakout year thus far.

Regan Nagy to out for 6 weeks with a finger injury (Photo: Kevin Light )

Added to Victoria is Jensen, a native of Calgary who is six-foot-three, 218 pounds and has 344 PIMS in 277 career WHL games. To date, he has spent his junior time in the East and Central divisions, originally drafted by the Lethbridge Hurricanes in 2012, then splitting time between Swift Current and Brandon last season. Royals GM Cam Hope commented to Mario Annicchiarico of the Time Colonist “He plays a big and mature game, and [he should be] a big help especially with the injuries we’re dealing with,” Hope said. “He’s a big, strong player and one of those guys who can settle a defense down.” Victoria sent a fifth-round pick in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft back to Brandon to acquire the tough defenceman.

The acquisition of Jensen immediately helps the Royals in the area of size and toughness, while adding another veteran to their younger defensive corps. In recent games, it is clear that opposing teams are looking to play the Royals physical, hoping to derail Victoria’s fast skating offense. Another decision and move will come when Nagy is ready to return, as the team will have to immediately make a move to get down to three twenty-year-old players.