Scott Bonner compares Keaton Verhoeff’s character and personality to Craig Cunningham, and in the Vancouver Giants’ vernacular, the compliments do not come much higher.
Bonner works for the Sports Corporation, the Edmonton-based player agents whose clients include Verhoeff, the defenceman projected to be an early pick in this month’s NHL draft after one season with the University of North Dakota, following a single campaign with the Victoria Royals.
Bonner had been the Giants general manager from their inception in the WHL in 2001-02 until leaving for the agent gig after the 2015-16 season, and Cunningham was one of the club’s most celebrated players during Bonner’s tenure with the team.
You undoubtedly know Cunningham best for his story now. He suffered a cardiac arrest on the ice just before an AHL game in 2016, and complications led to doctors amputating his lower left leg. He has managed to stay in the game, though, going onto scouting with the Vegas Golden Knights.
As a Giant, Cunningham was known for his hustle, work ethic and leadership. He had no goals and five points in 48 regular season games as a 16-year-old rookie forward in 2006-07. By the time he was 19, he had turned himself into a league most valuable player candidate, thanks to amassing 37 goals and 97 points in 72 games.
You could say that Bonner has ample reason to try to hype up Verhoeff, and you would not be wrong. It should also be pointed out that the only other Cunningham comparison that Bonner has made in the past 20 years — publicly at least — has been to fellow former Giant Brendan Gallagher, who, of course, has been lauded for his demeanour and non-stop effort level during his time with the Montreal Canadiens.
Verhoeff is a 6-foot-4, 212-pound right-shot rearguard. He put up six goals and 20 points in 36 games with North Dakota as one of the youngest players in the NCAA this season, and that followed 21 goals and 45 points in 63 games with the Royals in 2024-25.
Throw in those attitude intangibles that Bonner points to, and there is a lot for NHL teams to like with the Fort Saskatchewan, Alta., product who turns 18 on Friday.
The Vancouver Canucks own the No. 3 selection and have been linked most often to Brantford Bulldogs centre Caleb Malhotra at that selection, but the San Jose Sharks could easily trade out of the No. 2 post for veteran defence help considering where they are at in their development cycle. That could throw all the predictions out of whack.
Sportsnet’s Jason Bukala, for one, had Verhoeff at No. 1 in his November mock draft. Verhoeff has been in various spots in the most recent mocks. The Athletic staff had him going No. 8 to the Winnipeg Jets in the one they published Wednesday.
“I think everyone’s entitled to their own opinion and there’s lots of say around where everyone’s going, but, at the end of the day, it’s the list behind the scenes that matters most,” Verhoeff said in regards to all the pre-draft hype and hoopla. “For me, I’m honestly just looking forward and excited to see where I go and where the journey begins.
“Whatever team drafts me, I’m going to be super excited and super pumped to get to work there. I’ll come in and make that team eventually and make it my home and make an impact on the ice.”
Vancouver needs help at centre. That is true. They also finished in last place in the NHL by a whopping 14 points this season, so it is clear that they could use talent all over. You could make the case that the lone spot they have suitable depth is team president after hiring Daniel and Henrik Sedin in May to share the post.
American Chase Reid, who played last season in the OHL with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds but is committed to Michigan State come the fall, is the top rearguard on most draft lists, but the common next grouping of blue liners features several with Western Canadian ties: Verhoeff, Carson Carels (on his way to North Dakota next season from the Prince George Cougars), Daxon Rudolph (headed to Denver from the Prince Albert Raiders) and Ryan Lin (also Denver bound from the Vancouver Giants).
Most pundits have Lin slotted for somewhere in the middle of the first round, but he was the lone defenceman voted as one of Team Canada’s top three players at the Under-18 world championships in Slovakia in April. Verhoeff was also a part of that squad.
That quartet of defencemen from the west have known each other for years. Verhoeff admits there is “a healthy competition between us.”
“We obviously all want to be the best we can and be the best player, but, at the end of the day, I think we’re all cheering for each other,” Verhoeff said. “When I see them get drafted, I’m going to be excited for them.
“You play with guys in tournaments with Hockey Canada and you build these relationships and you get really excited to see their next steps in their journeys, whether it’s getting drafted or committing to a college.”
Verhoeff played goalie until he was 11. He says that he “didn’t like sitting in my crease, waiting for things to come to me,” so he switched to defence then.
Before signing on with Victoria, he played two seasons at Kelowna’s Rink Academy, where he had Calgary Flames legend Jarome Iginla as a coach. He even lived with the Iginla family for a year as part of that.
Verhoeff fast-tracked school, with the intent of graduating a year early so that he could focus on hockey in this draft season, but then NCAA opened up its rules. He opted to change course and leave Victoria for North Dakota.
He was one of the focal point players making that move from Major Junior to the NCAA. There was pressure in that, he admits.
“The people that were around, and especially the upperclassmen on the team, were super helpful in me finding my footing in college and being able to make the transition,” Verhoeff said.
Like everyone, he wants to be drafted as early as possible, but he also contends “whatever team drafts you and whatever team is going to be the right fit is going to be exciting.”
“Wherever I go, it doesn’t change the person I am. I’m going to bring that same work ethic and competitiveness and energy every single day,” he said. “Whatever I can do to help that team eventually win a Stanley Cup — that’s what I’m looking forward to.
“Getting drafted is just a start. You’re at the bottom of the mountain again, trying to work your way up.”
