Victoria Royals defenceman Chaz Reddekopp will have his chance to learn from the pros as the Los Angeles Kings’ draft pick has joined the NHL team’s American Hockey League affiliate, the Ontario Reign, on an amateur tryout agreement.
Reddekopp was selected by the Kings in the seventh round, 187th overall in the 2015 NHL entry draft, and joins a team where Royals head coach Dave Lowry’s son, Joel Lowry — a former Victoria Grizzly — currently plays.
“It’s going well. It’s cool just meeting everyone on staff and all the players,” said Reddekopp, who arrived in California on Sunday. “Just finding out how they conduct themselves and how they work and just how the pro life really works. It’s eye-opening to see how it all works at this level.”
Reddekopp, who did attend Kings’ rookie camp last season, is skating with a handful of other prospects after team practice and learning the ropes.
“Obviously, as a drafted guy you want to come in and make a good impression,” added Reddekopp, a West Kelowna native who appeared in 70 regular-season games in 2015-16 with the Royals and recorded 30 points, including 26 assists and added five helpers in 13 playoff games. Over his three seasons in the Western Hockey League, Reddekopp has suited up in 183 regular-season games, collecting 10 goals and 50 assists.
The Reign are tied 1-1 in a best-of-five series with the San Jose Barracuda with Game 3 set for Thursday.
Reddekopp is the second member of the Royals to join an AHL club this week as Joe Hicketts is now skating with the Grand Rapids Griffins — the Detroit Red Wings’ farm club — but was not in the lineup Tuesday night against Milwaukee.
“It’s very common to have guys on ATOs [amateur tryout agreement] and it should be a great experience for him,” Royals general manager Cam Hope said of Reddekopp, who unlike Hicketts is not signed by his NHL club.
mannicchiarico@timescolonist.com
Twitter.com/tc_vicsports
