2007 Defenseman Cohen Waldschmidt Acquired by Spokane Braves (KIJHL) for 2026–27 Season
Delta College Prep Hockey is proud to announce another major mid-season advancement for the 2025–26 campaign. Senior 2007-born defenseman Cohen Waldschmidt has verbally committed his playing rights to the Spokane Braves of the KIJHL for the 2026–27 season.
The KIJHL (Kootenay International Junior Hockey League) is one of the most competitive Hockey Canada–sanctioned western Junior A leagues, offering a strong pathway toward BCHL, WHL, and NCAA opportunities. The league’s LOI signing window opens June 1, 2026, at which point Cohen’s Verbal Letter of Intent will be formalized and activated with Spokane and Hockey Canada.
Waldschmidt has been a cornerstone of Delta’s blue line this season, appearing in all 15 College Prep games, recording 2 goals and 4 assists, and serving as a team captain. His combination of physicality, poise, and evolving offensive touch has made him one of the league’s most reliable and respected defensemen.
(Senior #4) Cohen Waldschmidt:
“I am very excited to have signed with the Spokane Braves for this upcoming season. This is an opportunity I have worked a long time for, and I am confident the Braves will be the place for me.”
General Manager David Dew:
“Cohen has been a shining star for us since day one, on and off the ice. He is a strong leader who garners natural respect from his teammates. His game translates perfectly to the physical style of Canada’s western Junior A leagues, and playing in the KIJHL brings him closer to his home state of Colorado. We’ve told him since he arrived that he was a Tier 2 Junior A defenseman for next season, and he proved that very early. Congratulations to Cohen and the entire Waldschmidt family.”
Head Coach Mitch Gillespie:
"We are extremely proud of Cohen for earning his tender with Spokane. He entered this program with relentless work ethic, embraced our culture wholeheartedly, and established himself as a contributor both on and off the ice. Very well deserved Cohen!"