Skip to content

Royals acquire Evan Richardson

Royals trade for rights to former first round WHL Bantam draft pick Evan Richardson
Grizz vs Powell River
Evan Richardson reaches from the ice playing for the Victoria Grizzlies in the second round of the 2011 BCHL playoffs versus the Powell River Kings. Richardson was later traded to Powell River

The Victoria Royals traded for the rights to forward Evan Richardson (1994) from the Swift Current Broncos, giving up forward Justin Spagrud (95) and a conditional draft pick.

Richardson, 18, is highly offensive in the BCHL, where he stars with the Powell River Kings. In 2011-12 he scored 55 points (19 goals, 36 assists) in 42 games, and helped lead the Kings to the Fred Page Cup final against the powerhouse Penticton Vees, and scored nine points in 15 playoff games.

Despite the Royals announcing the trade, there's no certainty that Richardson will actually suit up for the team. He has retained his NCAA eligibility to this point, and is part of a strong Powell River team.

He is, however, well known to the Royals coaching staff. Richardson was teammates with Joel Lowry, coach Dave's son, on the 2010-11 Victoria Grizzlies which won seven playoff games. As well, Royals assistant coach Geoff Grimwood was a Powell River assistant coach last season.

Spagrud, 17, was originally acquired by the Royals from the Tri-City Americans in the 2011 trade for defenceman Mitch Topping (Chilliwack Bruins).

The Broncos orginally selected Richardson, a promising major midget player, 15th overall in the 2009 WHL Bantam Draft. In 2009-10 he lit up the BC Major Midget Hockey League with the North Island Silvertips, accruing 73 points (35 goals, 38 assists) in 37 games.

The Royals open the season on Saturday, Sept. 22, against the Vancouver Giants at Save-On-Foods Memorial Centre.