Day two of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft was a defining moment in Kaedan Korczak乌鸦传媒檚 hockey career.
The Kelowna Rockets defenceman was selected 41st overall by the Vegas Golden Knights, thus expediting the busy off-season for the third Rockets player selected at the year乌鸦传媒檚 draft.
From the IIHF U18 Hockey Championships in April to Vegas training camp through the summer, Korczak hopes to build on those experiences in his continuing development this season.
乌鸦传媒淕etting that extra year is going to be a big part of this season,乌鸦传媒� Korczak said.
乌鸦传媒淲ith the Memorial Cup, it乌鸦传媒檚 going to be a fun and big year for the Rockets and I乌鸦传媒檓 really looking forward to it.
乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檓 looking forward to getting back to routine in Kelowna.乌鸦传媒�
READ MORE: Rockets乌鸦传媒� star impresses at World Junior showcase
Kelowna will host the Memorial Cup in May 2020.Hosting the tournament earns an automatic berth for the host city.
乌鸦传媒淓veryone being a year older, we乌鸦传媒檙e going to have a really good team,乌鸦传媒� Korczak said.
乌鸦传媒淟ast year wasn乌鸦传媒檛 great, but this year we乌鸦传媒檙e looking to make playoffs and make a big push for the Memorial Cup.乌鸦传媒�
His Rockets teammates Lassi Thomson, Nolan Foote and Dillon Hamaliuk were also selected at the NHL draft in June.
Korczak has talked with his teammates about their draft experiences, as well as their expectations for the upcoming season.
He said he didn乌鸦传媒檛 know what to think after being drafted, especially since Vegas traded up to grab the 6-foot-2 defenceman, a similar storyline to how he ended up being drafted as a bantam by the Rockets.
乌鸦传媒淎ll I was feeling was joy and happiness. That was a fun day for sure.乌鸦传媒�
At the draft, we traded 馃啓 to get
乌鸦传媒� Vegas Golden Knights (@GoldenKnights)
Now we're excited to watch him become a pro 馃槑
READ MORE: Rockets make big moves at WHL draft
Enjoying some brief time off in his hometown of Yorkton, Sask., before Rockets乌鸦传媒� camp in September, Korczak is prepared to return to Kelowna in a bigger role.
乌鸦传媒淯s older guys will have to lead the younger guys and show them how it乌鸦传媒檚 done this season,乌鸦传媒� he said.
The Rockets pre-season starts Aug. 30 with full roster camps starting shortly after ahead of the season-opener on Sept. 21.
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