Victoria Royals Justin Kipkie Ready To Lead By Example In Third WHL Season

Over the last seasons, Justin Kipkie has developed into a top pair defenceman for the Victoria Royals. Drafted in the fifth round of the 2023 NHL Draft by the Arizona Coyotes, he was able to take his game to another level last season, finishing 14th among WHL defenders with 52 points in 67 games. Now entering his third season with Victoria, Kipkie is ready to lead by example and help the Royals capture their first playoff win since 2019.

Kipkie built on a solid rookie season, becoming Victoria's top defenceman in 2023-24. He averaged over 27 minutes a game and helped the team clinch a playoff spot for the first time since their run to the second round in 2019. Looking back, Kipkie is happy with the way his season went last year and is ready to use the lessons he learned to take another step forward in his development in 2024-25. 

"I think it was another big step for my development here," said Kipkie. "Being able to play a ton of minutes and play an important role in the team was huge for my development. I think making the playoffs, too, was huge for the group, and I think being a little bit of a younger team, it's always good to get that playoff experience. I know getting swept wasn't the outcome we wanted, but I think everyone took a lot from that experience. I think that's just something we can really build on this year, and I think everyone's really excited to get back to that point."

Moving to another province and away from family is never easy, but it happens to the majority of WHL players. This includes Kipkie, whose WHL journey saw him move from Calgary to Victoria. Now that he has been with the team for a few years and is settled on Vancouver Island, he is ready to take on more of a leadership role, which includes helping younger players adjust to life away from home. 

"Being there for everyone on the team and making sure they're comfortable because I know moving away isn't always the easiest thing, and making sure everyone feels like a part of the team, too. I think that's such a huge thing in juniors; you want to feel part of it, and you want to be confident, too. I think making sure everyone's comfortable so that we can succeed is important because it takes everyone on the team, and it can't just be four or five guys. I think every year, you have to make sure everyone feels welcome."

Part of growing as a player is adapting to new situations, which is what Kipkie and his teammates had to do last season when Victoria made a coaching change in November. The move saw James Patrick replace Dan Price, which also came with a shift in strategy and direction for the team. As Kipkie explained, while it took some time to adjust, the coaching change was a big part of the team's success last year. 

"Obviously, it doesn't happen a lot at the WHL level, but it does happen a lot in professional hockey, so it's something that everyone has to get used to because no matter where you play, it's going to happen eventually. I think it's good to have that as a younger player and adjust that. James (Patrick) stepped in and really changed the team a lot. He had his own ideas and I think it really pushed the team, and we saw that success."

Before the end of the season, it was announced that the Coyotes would be moving to Utah, giving the franchise new life. This meant that Kipkie's rights moved with the team, meaning he is now part of the Utah Hockey Club's prospect pool. As Kipkie explains, he is excited about the future in Utah, especially after a successful development camp that saw fans pack the Delta Center.

"July was amazing to see the facilities, the town too and how similar the staff was as well. I am really excited about that change, a really good spot, and that camp was amazing. They've really invested a lot of time in the development staff, and I think that's been huge for me over the last few years since being drafted. Just the time they've put in, whether it's video or skills, with the coach, I think they're really invested in their players, and it's going to pay off. You're going to see over the next few years how good the team is going to be, so I think they've really built something strong there, and they've really built the foundation to build a really good team in the next few years."

While Kipkie's primary goal is to one day play in the NHL, his attention is on the Royals and the upcoming season. Victoria has built a strong team that should be able to compete with some of the best in the Western Conference. Like many, Kipkie is excited to see what Victoria's young stars like Cole Reschny and Keaton Vergoeff can do in 2024-25. 

"I think everyone's counting down the days right now until training camp. Cole (Reschny) obviously had a really good Hlinka tournament there and really made an impact. I'm excited to see where his season takes him this year. Obviously a big year for him, with it being his draft year, but I think he's gonna take some big steps this year. There are a lot of younger guys coming into the system, too. Keaton Verhoeff played really well last year in the games that he was called up to, called up as a 15-year-old, and got to play as a D partner with them. Really excited to see his development over the summer and how good this team can get. We've got a really good core of 05's as well.  I feel like we are going to be a really strong team in our division and really make a push this year."

As for Kipkie, he has a few goals he wants to achieve next season. These include continuing to develop his overall game and hopefully signing an entry-level contract. While he does have personal goals, his most significant focus is on helping the Royals achieve success in any way possible. 

"The big goal is earning a contract, but I think you gotta put that aside and work towards the team's success. I would love to see a big playoff push. Playing later in your junior career, you always want to end it, end it right. I feel like this year is the year to go forward, and I'm really excited to see what the team can do."

Ultimately, Kipkie deserves more attention league-wide for his overall play. He is productive at both ends of the ice and can contribute to both the penalty kill and power play. If he can continue to develop while becoming more productive next season, he should not only help Victoria clinch a playoff spot but also excite fans in Utah for what is possible in the future. 

Make sure you bookmark THN's WHL site for the latest news, exclusive interviews, breakdowns, and so much more.

Sven Bärtschi Returns To Portland, Hired As Winterhawks' New Assistant Coach

WHL Well Represented On Team Czechia's 2024 U20 Five Nations Tournament Roster

WHL Draft Day Steals: Brendan Gallagher

OPINION: Top Five WHL Players of 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup

Eight Canadian WHL Players Help Capture Gold at 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup; Czechia Takes Silver

Four WHLers Record Point in Semifinals, Canada Advances to 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Gold Medal Game