Andrew Cristall: Older, wiser and worth the admission

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

“We’ve known each other for a little bit, especially playing a few games together at U18’s,” Cristall told RocketFAN before boarding a plane this week to attend Washington Capitals rookie camp. “We had some good chemistry. The camp was super fun playing with him, even if just to put on the Canadian sweater for the summer showcase. I thought I played well, and it was nice to get some games in before training camp and get the conditioning up a little bit.” 

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

Last winter, Heidt was leading the WHL in both points and assists when his name was omitted from Hockey Canada’s list of 30 players invited to the final evaluation camp at Sixteen Mile Sports Complex in Oakville, Ontario. Cristall was leading his team in scoring too, yet he was also passed over among 2005-born player. 

“I find Heidt really easy to play with,” Cristall continued about skating with the second-round selection of the Minnesota Wild. “We both see the same things in the offensive zone, and coming into the zone, so we think alike so it helps when he knows where I am going to be and I know where is going to be.” 

Over the last three seasons, both Cristall and Heidt have put up exceptional offensive numbers. Cristall has 275 points, while Heidt has an impressive 272 points in 22 more games. 

Cristall, chosen in round two, 40th overall by the Capitals in 2023, would love nothing more than to spend the winter holidays with Heidt fighting for a gold medal at the prestigious tournament in Ottawa, after the team failed to medal in 2024 by placing fifth. 

“It is a personal goal of mine [to play for Canada],” he added. “That would be something special, so it is something I definitely want to do.” 

Cristall’s focus right now is competing hard at Capitals rookie camp, which starts this Friday in Annapolis, Maryland, a city located a quick 42-minute drive from Washington, DC. 

“The goal is to make the Capitals,” Cristall added with the mindset a player needs to have after taking a happy to be here approach a year ago. “I think I have a shot. I will give it my best effort there. If I come back [to Kelowna], we will have a great team, and I am excited for it.” 

Cristall enters this season with the third most points in Kelowna Rockets franchise history. With 280, that is 30 points shy of Tyson Baillie for second place and a full 61 points back of Brett McLean, who had 341 before being dealt to the Brandon Wheat Kings in his overage season.   

“When I came here as a 15-year-old, I was probably about 150 pounds,” Cristall recalled. “Now I am getting up there at 180 or 185, so I feel confident with the summer I had. I am stronger, and I am an older guy which feels weird, but it feels good.” 

Cristall’s 171 career assists puts him fifth all-time, but he can easily set a new record this season, sitting only fourteen helpers shy of McLean’s franchise leading 185. 

“The extra strength I have this year is going to help me,” he added. “When I was younger, it was tough to win puck battles against twenty-year-old’s, but now I am one of those guys where I should be having the puck and winning it against anybody.”  

After earning 111 points last season, which was fifth most of any skater in the WHL, many expect the likable forward to challenge for a league scoring title in 2024-2025.  

“We want to score more goals, and less goals against,” he added. “We have a super strong group of forwards, d-men and obviously our goalies.  

“Hopefully I can bring a lot, have a good playoff push and go for it.”