Photo credit: Steve Dunsmoor

By Regan Bartel

Two of the WHL's elite left off roster

Cristall and Heidt snubbed by Hockey Canada, only fueling NHL dream

Dec 17, 2024 | 7:00 AM

Andrew Cristall and Riley Heidt have a lot in common. 

Both play in the best developmental league in North America, suiting up for teams based in the BC Division.  

The two are sickly skilled. They have earned over 300 career points in the Western Hockey League while being chosen in the second round of the 2023 NHL draft: Cristall by the Washington Capitals (40th overall) and Heidt (64th overall) by the Minnesota Wild. Both have pro potential written all over them.  

The two were roommates at the most recent Team Canada evaluation camp, and both were snubbed, cut loose and told they weren’t worthy of wearing the colours of our nation at the high-profile tournament at Christmas. 

“You face a lot of challenges throughout your years in hockey, and this is one of them,” Heidt told RocketFAN before his Prince George Cougars face the Kelowna Rockets tonight (104-7 The Lizard has the pre-game show at 6:40 pm) at Prospera Place in the final game for both teams before the Christmas break. “There have been things in the past where, I don’t want to use the word doubted, but I can use this as motivation to continue to get better.” 

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Heidt’s right—there are doubters out there. Despite their offensive brilliance, the perception is that neither he nor Cristall is particularly interested in defending. Heidt was asked if he needs to change his game in order to gain more trust from NHL coaches and earn a paycheck at the next level.

“Not at all,” he said without hesitation. “I am super confident in the way my game has transformed over the last two or three years. I think I’ve become a real good 200-foot player and I play in all situations.” 

Cristall, too, believes he’s made strides defensively. Known as an offensive dynamo, averaging 2.36 points per game, the 19-year-old is also used on the penalty kill to prevent goals. But like Heidt, Cristall is left wondering why he isn’t playing in Ottawa with the best junior players in the world.

“Usually, I have made the teams that I have been on growing up, so this is definitely a new experience, “Cristall said after almost making the Capitals opening season roster back in October. “Adversity helps build character and helps make you stronger, and there is a plan for me with big things to come. I just need to improve and get better every day.” 

Both players were extremely disappointed at being denied of the lifetime opportunity, yet are showing the class that you would expect from a driven athlete. 

“I think I laid it all on the line,” Cristall said when asked if he performed well at a training camp, which finished as quickly as it started. “Sometimes it just doesn’t happen for you.” 

“I went to the camp and tried to play a little bit different to get a role on the team,” Heidt admitted. “I think any guy will take a role to play for the junior team. It is a short camp. It is a week-long and you go there against the best guys and try to make an impression. I am going to move on and try to move forward.” 

Was Heidt surprised that Cristall was cut? 

“It isn’t for me to say, but he is a tremendous player,” he said. “I think he should have been given the chance, but the whole team is great, so it is hard to make.”  

When the World Junior Hockey Championships begins Boxing Day, will Cristall and Heidt be glued to their TV sets like most Canadians to watch the 10-day event that features 29 games?

“I won’t be on social media.” Heidt said, referring to the inevitable armchair critics who will criticize Team Canada’s management if they don’t perform as expected.

“At the end of the day, I am still a hockey fan,” Cristall added about tuning in to watch Kelowna Rockets teammates Caden Price, Jakub Stancl (Team Czechia) and Marek Rocak (Team Czechia) play for a gold medal. 

“Honestly, it will be a little harder to watch, but I will still be studying the game.”