Rockets return to ice for rookie camp, then main camp next week

The off-season is over. Well, as of Monday. The Kelowna Rockets return to the ice next week, beginning with a rookie camp that runs from Monday through Friday and features 99 prospective players for the WHL club’s future.

Assistant coach Kris Mallette had some words of encouragement for the newcomers who will be trying to impress the staff and management in hopes of earning an invite to main camp.

“Enjoy the experience and do what you do best. Our scouts do a great job identifying talent, so when you come here work hard and have fun,” said Mallette.

Main camp will begin on Friday and run through Aug. 30.

Team selection takes place throughout main camp and carries over into pre-season games, with the Rockets opening exhibition play at home against the Victoria Royals and Prince George Cougars on Aug. 31 and Sept. 1, respectively. Both those games are 7:05 p.m. starts at Prospera Place.

Kelowna also has a home-and-home against the Kamloops Blazers on Sept. 7-8 to close out the pre-season.

As for returning players heading into main camp, the coaches want to see improvement after getting swept in the first round of the playoffs this spring.

“Our returning players will need to show management and the coaches that they put the work in over the summer,” Mallette said. “There are never any guarantees, so everyone will need to work hard and compete for a spot on the roster.”