The many skilled layers to Andrew Cristall’s game

• Share on Facebook
• Share on Bluesky
• Share on X
• Copy Link

“He helps our power play and gives it a boost,” Mallette wants that unit to keep on gaining momentum every time they have a chance to perform. “He is creative and brings that scoring threat each and every time he is on the ice.”

Rockets await start of Memorial Cup

Chances were there. Goals weren't

Apr 20, 2026

Enough talk. Time for action

As they say in Everett, 'Let's play hockey!

Apr 10, 2026

Rockets face road test in games 3 and 4

Goaltending, discipline and depth driving 2-0 series lead over Blazers

Mar 30, 2026

While sitting 6^th in league scoring, 9 points back of Moose Jaw’s Jagger Firkus, the 18-year-old has played five fewer games.

“If he doesn’t create points, it is just generated [offensive] chances,” Mallette referring to Cristall’s ability to make everyone around him better. “When he is on the ice and is buying into the defensive side, which he is getting better at, he is able to create not only for himself but for the players around him.”

Last season, Cristall missed 14 consecutive games between January 7^th and February 11^th with a lower body injury, yet came back with a flurry by scoring four times in his first game back against the Everett Silvertips. He would eventually end the 2022-2023 season with 95 points and was the easy choice as team MVP.

Despite dressing in just 18 of 23 games this season, Cristall’s 35 points are impressive, with website Elite Prospects suggesting the flashy forward is on pace to score 45 goals and collect 121 points this season. Those totals would be achieved while playing in 62 regular season games. That would be the second highest point total in franchise history, with Allan Egeland earning 123 points with the Tacoma Rockets in 1994.

Cristall has been held off the scoresheet just twice this season, in a loss in Prince George back on October 4^th and in a 4-0 shutout loss in Wenatchee on October 28th.

With the Rockets playing their final home game before the Christmas break tomorrow night against the visiting Wild (104.7 The Lizard has the broadcast at 6:35 pm), Mallette says they need a solid effort before hitting the road Friday for eight consecutive games on opposition ice, including five games in eight night’s on a Eastern Division road trip.

“Every road game, if you can tune out the crowd, and kill that momentum as soon as possible or often, you are in a real good spot,” he added. “Stealing a game, ya, but playing a boring style and not getting into a run and gun and keeping the crowd out of it.”

Entering the week with 8-wins on the season, the Rockets schedule has been heavily loaded against teams in the highly competitive US Division. With ten games already played against those south of the border, the Rockets have earned as many points (9) as they have within the BC Division.

By comparison, first-place Prince George has played just five times against those flying the colours of the red, white, and blue, and have a pedestrian 3-2-0-0 record.