Anything but ordinary: B.C. blueliner following unconventional path to the NHL

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Timofei Runtso says it simply, almost casually, but the road that brought the 18-year-old defenceman to the Victoria Royals has been anything but ordinary.

In his first season in the Western Hockey League, Runtso has not only adjusted to major junior hockey, he has taken control of it.

Through 37 games, the 6’2”, 187-pound rookie is pacing the Royals’ blue-line with 31 points – 7 goals and 24 assists – tying him for ninth among all WHL defencemen and ninth among rookies league-wide.

On a Victoria team fighting for playoff positioning, his presence has become essential, particularly on the power play, where his vision and confidence with the puck have turned him into a steady quarterback.

But his hockey story begins well before his own skates hit the ice.

Both of his parents were born in Belarus, before moving to the United States, and his father, Andrei, carved out a professional hockey career of his own in the late 1990s, playing in Belarus and France.

“My dad moved to France to play hockey and then to California, where he liked it and stayed,” Runtso said. “Then he brought my mom over, started playing hockey there, and the rest was history.”

Andrei’s path did not end when his playing days were over.

He transitioned into a second career as a stuntman and actor, appearing in major productions including The Greatest Showman, Jack Reacher, and The Amazing Spider-Man 2.

“He’s a stuntman and actor,” Runtso said. “He kind of flies around, does shows, TV shows, movies, stuff like that. It’s a lot of fun to see him on the big screen.”

Runtso’s own hockey development took shape in Southern California, where he spent several seasons with the Los Angeles Jr. Kings.

The program has a proven track record, producing NHL talent like Kailer Yamamoto and Dustin Wolf, who both followed similar routes from the Kings Jr. organization to the WHL.

“It’s pretty close to my house, and the training facilities are all just five minutes away,” Runtso said. “You can train however long you want. We had a great group of guys. It’s a special group.”

That foundation carried him to the North American Hockey League, where he played the 2024-25 season with the St. Cloud Norsemen.

From there, a bigger decision loomed.

With new NCAA eligibility rules now allowing WHL players to maintain their college eligibility, Runtso chose major junior hockey, while remaining committed to Miami University (Ohio) for the 2026-27 season.

“It was kind of between USHL and WHL,” he said. “I’ve heard really good things about the WHL, and it was kind of a no-brainer. It’s kind of like a mini-NHL here. I love it.”

Victoria, he said, exceeded expectations.

“I heard a lot of great stuff about it,” Runtso said. “I had big expectations, and they were met, easily.”

While his offensive numbers stand out, Runtso is quick to describe himself as more than just a point producer.

“I like to say I’m a two-way guy that kind of works both zones,” he said. “Whether that’s defending a one-goal game or trying to get a goal on a six-on-five, I try and do whatever I can.”

He credits Royals head coach James Patrick, a longtime NHL defenceman, for helping shape his game.

“You can learn so many things,” Runtso said. “He has so much experience, and you just try to soak all of it in.”

That growth has not gone unnoticed.

In October, Runtso was listed on NHL Central Scouting’s preliminary players to watch list, an early sign that his name is circulating in draft conversations.

“I try not to think about it much,” he said. “If you get into your head too much, you’ll dip. I just try and think about the team and how many points we can get to make the playoffs.”