A swift and unexpected four-game exit from last spring乌鸦传媒檚 playoffs made for a long offseason for the Kelowna Rockets.
On the eve of the club乌鸦传媒檚 training camp at Prospera Place, GM Bruce Hamilton expects Rockets乌鸦传媒� coaches and players alike to get to work on making amends for an unsatisfying conclusion to the 2017-18 campaign.
乌鸦传媒淕oing out four straight last year was a real disappointment after winning our division,乌鸦传媒� said Hamilton. 乌鸦传媒淔or the players, there乌鸦传媒檚 certainly some pressure on them to be better but there乌鸦传媒檚 pressure on the coaches to be better, too. They乌鸦传媒檒l need to get this team prepared, ready to go and get out of the gate fast.乌鸦传媒�
Between 55 and 60 players are expected to be on the ice for the start of main training camp this weekend.
With head coach Jason Smith at the helm for his third season, the Rockets will be looking to overcome the departures of a handful of key players, including forwards Dillon Dube and Kole Lind and defencemen Cal Foote, Gordie Ballhorn and James Hilsedager.
Up front, Hamilton said the Rockets will be relying on a strong group of 19-year-old forwards, including Kyle Topping, Erik Gardiner, Leif Mattson, Conner Bruggen-Cate and Jack Cowell.
乌鸦传媒淲e have five real good 19-year-olds, they乌鸦传媒檙e going to have sort it out, who乌鸦传媒檚 going to be on the first line and where they fit in,乌鸦传媒� Hamilton. 乌鸦传媒淚 think we乌鸦传媒檙e going to have some interesting battles with guys trying to position themselves on the second, third and fourth lines.乌鸦传媒�
Hamilton said the club乌鸦传媒檚 strength this season could well be in goal as James Porter looks to build on a solid rookie campaign. Roman Basran, whose 2017-18 season was cut short by a knee injury, is expected to challenge for his share of playing time between the pipes.
Rockets Rookie Camp: Day One is in the books. Details: 馃殌馃悏
乌鸦传媒� Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets)
乌鸦传媒淧orter乌鸦传媒檚 had a real good summer and once we get Basran back healthy, we乌鸦传媒漧l have a real solid pair back there,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淭hat乌鸦传媒檚 one of the most important things you need going into a season.乌鸦传媒�
If there乌鸦传媒檚 any area of concern, Hamilton points to the defensive corps乌鸦传媒攚ithout Foote, Hilsendager and Ballhorn乌鸦传媒攂ut even then, there乌鸦传媒檚 reason for optimism.
乌鸦传媒�(Kaedan) Korczak who was at the under-18s, he乌鸦传媒檚 made tremendous strides, (Libor) Zabransky will have to step up for us, and our Finnish player (Lassi Thomson) is an exceptional, so we乌鸦传媒檝e got some guys there that乌鸦传媒檒l step in and play,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒�
乌鸦传媒淭he guys who were six, seven, eight on defense last year are going to have to work real hard to get a spot here, which is always real positive.乌鸦传媒�
The Rockets kick off their exhibition season Friday, Aug. 31 at home to the Victoria Royals.
Kelowna乌鸦传媒檚 2018-19 WHL regular season opens with a home-and-home set against the rival Kamloops Blazers乌鸦传媒擣riday in Sept. 21 in Kamloops, then again Saturday, Sept. 22 at Prospera Place.
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