Photo credit: Steve Dunsmoor

By Regan Bartel

100 goals in just 176 games

Andrew Cristall: The Milestone Maker

Feb 14, 2024 | 12:23 PM

Nick Merkley didn’t accomplish it. Neither did Jamie Benn. Kole Lind couldn’t reach the milestone either.

Scoring 100 goals at the Western Hockey League level isn’t easy. Only real special players, who produce on the scoreboard consistently can reach such a lofty total.

You can add Andrew Cristall to that list. The just-turned-19-year-old earned his 100^th career goal Tuesday night in a 4-2 home-ice loss to the Spokane Chiefs.

“I think I have a pretty accurate shot,” Cristall told RocketFAN about his ability to find the back of the net. “If I can get to the top of the paint or the middle of the ice, that is where I score more of my goals.”

Cristall became the first Rockets player to score 100 goals in a career since Tyson Baillie and Rourke Chartier hit the same mark during the 2015-2016 season.

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What makes Cristall’s scoring prowess so impressive, is it was accomplished in only 176 games.

“I don’t shoot from too far often and score, but I change the angle [of his body] and change my blade [angle] and shoot for the open nets.”

Rourke Chartier had a tremendous release and scored many of his goals that way. Tyson Baillie seemed to read the play well and was always clutch from in-tight. Cristall doesn’t have that goal-scorer’s wicked release, but pin-point accuracy and soft hands have severed him well.

“I have played against most the goalies across the league,” he admitted. “I know their tendencies after I play them one or two times, so I have some things in the back of my head on where I want to shoot…but I don’t want to reveal too much.”

When Cristall scored his first WHL goal against the Prince George Cougars back in April of 2021, in the bubble season, no one thought the century mark would come this quickly.

“When you are scoring goals, you have to be on your toes and not be doing the same thing,” Cristall said while trying to keep his cards close to his chest on his ability to score. “Sometimes there is too much overthinking when trying to score, so I just go out there and take what’s given and hopefully it goes in.”

One of 16 players across the WHL with 30 or more goals, Cristall is on pace to score 41 times this season, while leading the team in points with 111.

You would think the NHL team that drafted him, the Washington Capitals, should be happy.

“They have been in contact with me this season, and they are just another support system I can use,” he said. “They have been great in letting me know what’s working and what is not and what I need to improve on.”

Most recently, Cristall has been playing with rookie forward Hiroki Gojsic, which is a drastic departure from creating offense with longtime line-mate Gabriel Szturc.

“Not playing with Gabby gives us a different look for our team,” he admitted. “I have enjoyed playing with Hiroki Gojsic the last few games. He has a big body. He can skate and has a good shot. We’ve found some chemistry.

“He can really move his legs. Hopefully, I can keep up with him.”