Former Kelowna Rocket and brand new Spokane Chief Andrew Cristall has been named Tempo WHL Player of the Week (Jan. 6-12).
Cristall was traded to Spokane on Jan. 8. The Chiefs lost a 4-2 to the Everett Silvertips in Cristall91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s debut on Jan. 10, but he made his presence known in a 12-2 win over the Wenatchee Wild on Jan. 11. Cristall tallied a hat-trick and four assists for a seven point night.
He was named first star of the game, which marks Spokane91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s highest-scoring outing since the 1993-94 season. It was also the second seven-point night of Cristall91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s WHL career. He scored twice and picked up five helpers in a 9-1 win over Kamloops in 2023-24 when he was still a Rocket.
Cristall was also named player of the week for Nov. 19-25, 2024 while wearing a Rockets uniform. The 5-foot-10, 183-pound winger has 29 goals and 38 assists for 67 points and a +24 rating in 30 games this season. Cristall leads all WHL skaters in points while sitting second in goals.
The Chiefs-Rockets deal saw Kelowna pick up 17-year-old Hayden Paupanekis, a first and third-round pick in the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft, a first-rounder in 2027, and second and sixth-round picks in 2026. Cristall left Kelowna second in all-time scoring in franchise history.
He was drafted by the Washington Capitals 40th overall in the second round of the 2023 NHL Entry Draft and signed his entry-level contract later that summer.
Cristall and the Chiefs are in Kelowna to take on the Rockets at Prospera Place at 7:05 p.m. on Wednesday.
