Victoria Royals defenceman Odin Vauhkonen shows development

Odin Vauhkonen, a defenceman for the Victoria Royals, is experiencing significant growth during his second full season in the Western Hockey League (WHL). The 18-year-old has recorded two goals and 11 assists through 11 games, ranking him third in scoring for the Royals and tied for third among all WHL defencemen.

Vauhkonen currently holds a plus-10 rating, which leads the Victoria team and is tied for ninth among all skaters in the league. His performance has earned him a ‘B’ rating on the NHL Central Scouting preliminary watch list for the 2027 NHL Draft.

As the team's primary blueliner, Vauhkonen has focused on increasing his confidence and playmaking abilities, drawing inspiration from former teammate Timofei Runtso.