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'Roller Coaster' ride for Andrew Cristall last season
Photo credit: NHL
Andrew Cristall, the Washington Capitals rising star, had a 2024-25 season he won't soon forget, setting records and wearing 5 different jerseys with 5 different teams, and having fun while doing it.
"Roller Coaster ride," Cristall said when asked by Ian Oland of RMNB to sum up his year. "It was a pretty up-and-down year. It was a lot of change, adjusting, adapting. But a whole lot of fun as well."
The 2023, 2nd round draft selection is being seen by fans as a steal, given the huge numbers he's put up, and his eye-popping success throughout the year. Yet, where Andrew will begin the 2025-26 season is uncertain at this time. He must still prove his value as pro.
Yet, in only four pre-season games with the Caps last September, Cristall finished tied for the team lead in pre-season points (3) and goals (2), showcasing his improved skating stride and high hockey IQ. He managed to remain with the training camp roster until October 2nd, forcing coaches to make tough roster decisions just before the season start.
Clearly, Andrew is capable of demonstrating his skills when it counts most. Though he would not have his NHL debut, he did make the most of his final WHL year, scoring 4 or more points in 6 of his first 18 games.
On December 2nd, Cristall put on his 3rd jersey, when he was called by Team Canada for the World Juniors, but was not selected.
He returned to Kelowna and with finished 60 points in 28 games, jumping into 2nd on the Rockets' for all-time scoring, before he was traded to Spokane. He then went Supernova with the Chiefs, posting 72 points in only 29 games; he was the first WHL player to reach 100 points.
Cristall finished the year as the first WHL player in the 21st century to reach 400 points.
Finally, Andrew was called by the Hershey Bears to be the black ace of the team's playoff run, slipping into his 5th different sweater of the season.
"Yeah, it was pretty mind blowing," Andrew said of witnessing Ovi's all-time NHL goals record in the regular season. "It's pretty special to share the ice with him in practice and games. I think we might have been on the same power play unit for a game or something."
Ovi's achievements certainly were mind blowing; but the same could also be said of Andrew Cristall's own achievements this past season.
| POLL | ||
JUIN 4 | 24 ANSWERS 'Roller Coaster' ride for Andrew Cristall last season Would you like to see Andrew Cristall on the 2025-26 regular season roster? | ||
| Yes | 19 | 79.2 % |
| No | 5 | 20.8 % |
| List of polls | ||