Reflecting on 1st half of Rockets’ season
The Kelowna Rockets started off rocky, but at the halfway point of the season are gaining confidence and wins.
The Western Hockey League moved from a 72-game schedule to 68 for this season. The Rockets played their
34th game of the season against the Calgary Hitmen before finishing up their road trip in Medicine Hat ahead of the holiday break.
Looking at their 16-17-2-0 record now, you would never guess that the team started the season 1-8-0-0 through their first nine games.
President and general manager Bruce Hamilton has since tinkered with the roster, acquiring a few veterans — including two over-agers — to bolster the depth up front and on the back end.
The Rockets acquired Detroit Red Wings prospect Lane Zablocki, a forward, from the Victoria Royals on Sept. 29 in exchange for a seventh-round pick at the 2019 bantam draft and a fourth-rounder in the 2021 draft. Then, at the Oct. 10 over-age deadline, Kelowna got Dalton Gally, a defenceman, from the Medicine Hat Tigers for a 10th-round pick at the 2020 bantam draft.
A day later, on Oct. 11, the Rockets acquired Michael Farren, an 18-year-old forward, from the Saskatoon Blades for a third-round pick in 2020.
On Oct. 23, the Rockets made another switch, this time behind the bench. Two-time Stanley Cup champ and Olympic gold medalist Adam Foote was hired to replace Jason Smith as head coach. He was victorious in his debut later that night, a 3-2 win over the Swift Current Broncos. Since that coaching change, the Rockets are 12-7-2-0 under Foote (4-10-0-0 under Smith).
Speaking of firsts, a few Rockets rookies have lit the lamp in the WHL for the first time.
It took Finish import Lassi Thomson just three games to score his first goal on Sept. 26 against Prince George.
Kyle Crosbie netted his first on Oct. 10 against the Seattle Thunderbirds.
Two nights later, Dallon Wilton potted his first against the Tri-City Americans.
Sixteen-year-old Ethan Ernst put home his first in Victoria on Oct. 20.
Mark Liwiski fired in his first goal against the Portland Winterhawks on Nov. 11.
A pair of Rockets prospects also made their WHL debuts in the first half of the season.
Trevor Wong, a firstround pick (18th overall) at the 2018 bantam draft this past May, signed and hit the ice with the Rockets on Oct. 27 against the Prince George Cougars.
Jackson DeSouza hit the road with the Rockets last week and skated in his first WHL game on Dec. 15 against the Medicine Hat Tigers.
A major organization milestone was hit on Nov. 9 against the Seattle Thunderbirds when Nolan Foote scored the 6,000th goal in Kelowna Rockets history — not including Tacoma.
Plenty of personal milestones were hit as well.
Leif Mattson recorded his 100th WHL point on Nov. 23 against Victoria. Erik Gardiner played in his 100th game on Nov. 23.
On Nov. 30 against the Tri-City Americans, over-ager Braydyn Chizen skated in his 200th WHL game, while Nolan Foote hit the century mark for career points in the league.
Defencemen Libor Zabransky and Kaedan Korczak also suited up for their 100th games in early December.
On Tuesday, the Rockets signed local product Alex Swetlikoff to a standard WHL player agreement.
The 17-year-old was originally drafted 62nd overall in the third round of the 2016 bantam draft by Seattle. Kelowna acquired Swetlikoff’s rights from Lethbridge on Dec. 6 for a fourth-round pick in the 2022 bantam draft.
Swetlikoff is projected to make his WHL debut following the holiday break when the Rockets return to action with a home-andhome series against the rival Kamloops Blazers on Dec. 28-29.