Just eight months after joining the Victoria Royals, Kenta Isogai is heading to California with a pro contract in hand.
The 20-year-old from Nagano, Japan, has signed a two-year deal with the Ontario Reign of the American Hockey League – the direct affiliate of the Los Angeles Kings – following a strong finish to his junior career in the WHL.
Nagano native. Empire bound!
— Ontario Reign (@ontarioreign) August 6, 2025
We've signed forward Kenta Isogai to a two-year AHL contract. Welcome aboard the #ReignTrain, Kenta! 🌧️🚂
📰 https://t.co/I2LHbJoTrQ pic.twitter.com/JK2HUqmUxs
Acquired by Victoria on Jan. 1 in a six-piece trade with the Wenatchee Wild, Isogai quickly became one of the Royals’ most dangerous forwards. He piled up 17 points in 11 playoff games this spring, helping the club reach the second round of the postseason for the first time since 2018.
He provided an immediate spark following the trade, joining the top line with Cole Reschny and Teydon Trembecky to form one of the league’s most dynamic trios down the stretch.
Following his time with the Royals, Isogai was invited to the Kings' development camp this summer in El Segundo, Calif., and his performance there helped earn him his first pro deal just a month later.
“Kenta was an important addition to our team as he really helped solidify our forward group,” Royals general manager Jake Heisinger told Victoria News. “We are excited to see him bring his speed and offensive ability to the pro level.”
In total, Isogai notched 166 points over 123 WHL games between Victoria and Wenatchee. He posted 40 of those in 2025 in 31 games with the Royals. Prior to his WHL tenure, he spent three seasons in the USHL with the Youngstown Phantoms, winning a Clark Cup in 2023.
He’ll now look to carve out a role with Ontario this fall – and continue chasing a spot in NHL history. Only one Japanese-born player has ever appeared in the league: goaltender Yutaka Fukufuji, who played four games for the Kings in 2006-07.
