Victoria, B.C.- The Victoria Royals have added a major jewel to their crown with the acquisition of skilled forward Kenta Isogai from the Wenatchee Wild.
The move sees Isogai and a conditional fourth-round pick in the 2027 WHL Prospects Draft head north of the corner, while Wenatchee takes on the rights to 17-year-old forward Morgan Hackman, 17-year-old defenceman Nick Koering, a second-round selection in the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft, a third-round pick in 2027 and a fifth-round pick in 2028.
Isogai had been leading the Wild in scoring for a second straight year with 15 goals (including seven powerplay tallies and one game-winner) and 23 assists for 38 points in 28 games.
The 5-foot-11, 175-pound winger brings a massive scoring punch to the Royals, who sit second in the B.C. Division.
Short side, stick side, game tied! Kenta Isogai scores on the power play for a 1-1 tie!#PowerOfThePack pic.twitter.com/1rYfNcD4fQ
— Wenatchee Wild (@WHLwild_) December 28, 2024
He’s already recorded 11 multi-point outings this season, highlighted by a two-goal, three-assist outburst against the Kelowna Rockets on December 14 and a four-assist show in a 7-4 defeat of the Edmonton Oil Kings on November 2.
Born in Nagano, Japan, Isogai moved to North America to pursue hockey at the highest level and was drafted by the Wild with the 60th overall pick in the first round of the 2023 CHL Import Draft.
He’s potted 46 goals and 80 assists for 126 points and a +18 rating in 92 regular-season matches with Wenatchee.
Isogai, 20, finished second on the Wild in the 2024 WHL Playoffs with four goals and four assists in five games as Wenatchee bowed out against the Kelowna Rockets.
He was also named a WHL U.S. Division First Team All-Star for 2023-24.
Kenta Isogai is Wenatchee's latest hat collector. @WHLwild_ | #NHLDraft | #WHLHatTricks pic.twitter.com/tQRMM1o40E
— The WHL (@TheWHL) January 7, 2024
Victoria (18-11-3-4) is 5-3-0-2 in its last 10 games and sits four points behind the Prince George Cougars for the B.C. Division lead.
Isogai will join the likes of project 2025 NHL Draft first-round pick Cole Reschny and Winnipeg Jets prospect Markus Loponen, with Captain and Utah Hockey Club prospect Justin Kipkie, San Jose Sharks pick Nate Misskey, and star rookie Keaton Verhoeff highlighting the blueline.
He could suit up for his first game as a Royal as soon as Friday, January 3, as Victoria prepares to host the league-leaving Everett Silvertips (28-5-2-1) at the Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena at 7:05 p.m. PST.
Wenatchee (13-17-3-1) has won two straight games and hits the road to take on the Vancouver Giants on Friday, January 3 at the Langley Events Centre at 7:00 p.m. PST.
