The Washington Capitals announced Monday that they have re-assigned 2023 second-round draft selection Andrew Cristall to the AHL’s Hershey Bears. Cristall saw his season with the WHL’s Kelowna Rockets end on Friday night after the Prince George Cougars, led by fellow Capitals prospect Zac Funk, eliminated Kelowna in a five-game, second-round series.
Cristall will arrive in Hershey coming off of another highly successful season in the WHL. The 19-year-old winger recorded 111 points (40g, 71a) in 62 games for the Rockets and chipped in an additional 15 points (4g, 11a) in 11 playoff games.
NEWS | The Capitals have re-assigned forward Andrew Cristall from the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League (WHL) to the Hershey Bears. https://t.co/q8aPYajAcx
— Washington Capitals (@Capitals) April 22, 2024
The British Columbia native was named one of the BC Division’s Second Team All-Stars after finishing fifth overall in the league in scoring. Cristall had the second-longest point streak in the league this season, notching at least one point in all of his games from November 3, 2023, through January 19, 2024. He tallied 45 points (17g,28a) in those 23 games.
His most impressive single-game outing came on March 8 when he put up seven points in one game against the Kamloops Blazers. His fifth point in the game was the 100th of his season, lifting him above the 100-point plateau for the first time in his career. He is the first Rockets player to hit the 100-point milestone since 2008.
The Bears wrapped up their franchise-best 2023-24 regular season on Saturday night. They earned a first-round playoff bye by winning the Atlantic Division and await the lowest seed that advances to the Atlantic Division Semifinals.
Cristall joins fellow prospects Patrick Thomas and Haakon Hänelt effectively as Hershey’s black aces for the team’s upcoming postseason.
Here’s the press release from the Capitals:
Capitals Re-assign Andrew Cristall to Hershey
ARLINGTON, Va. – The Washington Capitals have re-assigned forward Andrew Cristall from the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League (WHL) to the Hershey Bears of the American Hockey League (AHL), president and general manager Brian MacLellan announced today.
Cristall, the Capitals’ second-round choice, 40th overall, in the 2023 NHL Draft, recorded 111 points (40g, 71a) in 62 games with Kelowna this season. The 5’10”, 172-pound forward ranked fifth in the WHL in points during the regular season and was named to the WHL B.C. Division Second All-Star Team. In addition, Cristall ranked tied for first on Kelowna with 15 points (4g, 11a) in 11 WHL playoff games.
The Vancouver, British Columbia native spent the 2022-23 season with Kelowna, where he led the team in goals (39), assists (56) and points (95). Cristall’s 1.76 points-per-game rate ranked fourth in the WHL, while his 95 points ranked tied for sixth. Cristall was named Kelowna’s team MVP and was selected to the WHL B.C. Division First All-Star Team.
During the 2021-22 season, Cristall set a Kelowna Rockets franchise record for goals by a 16-year-old (28) and tied the franchise record for points by a 16-year-old (69). In 191 career WHL games with Kelowna, Cristall has recorded 280 points (109g, 171a).
Cristall won a gold medal with Canada at the 2022 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, finishing the tournament with six points (1g, 5a) in five games. In addition, Cristall served as an alternate captain at the 2023 Under-18 World Championship, where he registered six points (2g, 4a) in seven games and helped Canada to the bronze medal.
