Royals sign top pick Nolan Bentham

The Victoria Royals are proud to announce that the club has signed Victoria native and defenceman Nolan Bentham to a WHL Standard Player Agreement.

The 6'2', 179 lb blueliner was the team’s first selection, 13th overall, at the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft in Red Deer, AB in May. The WHL Bantam Draft is an annual event in which clubs select players who have graduated from bantam.

“Nolan is a smart, mobile defenceman with exceptional hockey sense. He knows how to be effective at both ends of the ice,” said President and General Manager, Cameron Hope.

“We are happy to welcome Nolan and his family to the organization. We are all excited about his future with the club.”

Last season, Bentham played for the Yale Hockey Academy Bantam Prep team of the Canadian Sport School Hockey League (CSSHL).

In 30 contests he recorded 22 points (5g-17a) to go with 34 penalty minutes and led all defencemen on his team in scoring. In three post-season games in the 2018 CSSHL Playoffs, Bentham registered five points (1g-4a) which was the third highest total among all Yale players.

Over five games at the John Reid Memorial Bantam Tournament in January, Bentham earned a pair of assists and six penalty minutes. He was also a member of Team White at the 2018 B.C. Cup where he registered one goal and four minutes in penalties over four games.

Bentham played his minor hockey for the Victoria Racquet Club Association.