Victoria Royals defencemen drafted by NHL team
A 17-year-old Victoria Royals player was drafted by the NHL's San Jose Sharks over the weekend.
The defenceman, Gannon Laroque, was drafted in the fourth round by the Sharks on Saturday.
According to the Royals, Laroque logged the most minutes on the ice out of all players during the last season. He also received the Royals Top Defenceman Award for the last two seasons.
"We’re incredibly proud and happy for Gannon today," said Royals GM and head coach Dan Price in a release Saturday.
"He has incredible work ethic, moves the puck well and is extremely physical. He has a bright future ahead of him," said Price.
The 6'2" tall, 196-pound defenceman says playing in the NHL is something he's long hoped for.
"This is a dream come true for me," said Laroque in a release Saturday.
"I’m excited and grateful to the Sharks organization for selecting me and giving me an opportunity," he said. "I’ve wanted to play in the NHL since I was a first-year novice player and I recognize that being selected by San Jose is just the next step towards my ultimate goal of becoming a full time NHL player."
Laroque is the 11th Victoria Royals player to be drafted over the last nine years, according to the team.
"I’m grateful for the opportunity to develop with the Royals who have allowed me to immerse myself in hockey and become a student of the game," he said.
"I’m looking forward to getting back to Victoria to work with my teammates and am excited to work with the Sharks to get to my goal of playing in the NHL."
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
NDP motion regarding Palestinian statehood passes after major Liberal alterations
A motion from the federal New Democrats initially calling on Canada to recognize the 'State of Palestine' passed amid widespread acrimony on Monday, after the Liberals drastically altered its wording to see the government simply work towards that aim as part of a two-state solution.
'He didn't want to die': Family of Calgary man killed in standoff speaks out
Family of a Calgary man killed after a 30-hour standoff with police last week are speaking out, sharing details of the tense and heart-wrenching experience.
Toronto family doctor who called patient's body 'perfect' suspended for 3 months: tribunal
A family doctor in Toronto has been suspended for three months after a disciplinary tribunal found that he failed to follow proper protocols while examining a patient's breasts and made inappropriate comments about her body.
Ohio mom who left toddler alone 10 days when she went on vacation pleads guilty to aggravated murder
An Ohio mother whose 16-month-old daughter died after being left home alone in a playpen for 10 days last summer while she went on vacation was sentenced Monday to life in prison with no chance of parole.
Retired teacher pleads guilty to paying for sex with 15-year-old in Collingwood, Ont.
In a Barrie courtroom on Monday, a retired high school teacher from the Niagara Region pleaded guilty to sexual touching and obtaining sexual services from a 15-year-old boy in Collingwood in 2021.
Hertz CEO out following electric car 'horror show'
The company, which announced in January it was selling 20,000 of the electric vehicles in its fleet, or about a third of the EVs it owned, is now replacing the CEO who helped build up that fleet, giving it the company’s fifth boss in just four years.
5 charged in Calgary kidnappings that targeted women
Calgary police have charged five men in a pair of kidnappings last year that targeted innocent victims.
Demand soars for solar eclipse glasses in Canada. Are they worth buying?
The demand for total solar eclipse glasses used to safely view the rare celestial event has been ramping up as sellers, along with astronomy and eye-care experts in Canada, warn that viewing the eclipse with the naked eye is dangerous.
Canadian commander of volunteer fighter group dies in Ukraine
A Canadian-born commander of the so-called Norman Brigade, a volunteer fighting group in Ukraine, has died.