Last September, at 16, Liam Kindree somewhat reluctantly returned to the Vancouver Northwest Giants for one more season of midget hockey.

In hindsight, it was the best plan of action for both the skilled, young forward and the

Kindree thrived in his final season in the B.C. Major Midget League, as the 5-foot-10, 175-pound North Vancouver native finished atop with with 28 goals and 67 points in 40 games. He was also named the BCMML乌鸦传媒檚 top forward.

Armed with an extra supply of confidence and an added year of maturity, Kindree is back with the Rockets and ready to launch his rookie season in the Western Hockey League.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 obviously tough, you don乌鸦传媒檛 ever not want to make a team, but there乌鸦传媒檚 a reason they sent me back,乌鸦传媒� said Kindree, a fourth-round pick of the Rockets in the 2015 bantam draft. 乌鸦传媒淚t was motivation for me and a real confidence booster to do what I did last year.

乌鸦传媒淚 feel a huge difference this time at camp, I乌鸦传媒檓 playing with confidence, I want the puck more乌鸦传媒�I乌鸦传媒檓 just really excited to be here.乌鸦传媒�

Just as the Rockets did with a 16-year-old Kole Lind three years ago, Kelowna returned Kindree to midget hockey for an extra year of seasoning.

Rockets assistant coach Kris Mallette said the benefits of the move have been evident in Kindree乌鸦传媒檚 play so far in training camp.

乌鸦传媒淲hen we sent him back as a 16-year-old, our staff challenged him to be the best player there,乌鸦传媒� Mallette said of Kindree, who played in seven regular season games and one in the playoffs with the Rockets last season. 乌鸦传媒淲ith the kind of year he had, he obviously took that to heart.

乌鸦传媒淗e came back in much better shape, he really took last season and the summer seriously, and he really wants to be here and contribute. He乌鸦传媒檚 worked hard and he乌鸦传媒檚 looked really good at camp so far.乌鸦传媒�

As is most often the case for young players breaking into the lineup, ice time will likely be at a premium for Kindree and opportunities will have to be earned as the season progresses.

Mallette said Kindree is in the same boat as a handful of young Rockets forwards who will be expected to learn the ropes乌鸦传媒攐n and off the ice乌鸦传媒攚hile also exercising both patience and persistence.

乌鸦传媒淥ur expectation is for him to come in and get his feet wet, learn and continually improve his game,乌鸦传媒� Mallette said. 乌鸦传媒淭here乌鸦传媒檚 a learning curve involved and it乌鸦传媒檚 about paying your dues. Our youngest guys are going to play limited roles compared to where they came from and you hope they adapt, both on and off the ice.

乌鸦传媒�(Liam) has good vision, a good hockey IQ and a real good skill set,乌鸦传媒� he added. 乌鸦传媒淔rom what we乌鸦传媒檝e seen, he乌鸦传媒檚 ready to take that step. He乌鸦传媒檚 come back stronger and will be more prominent.乌鸦传媒�

For Kindree乌鸦传媒檚 part, he said he乌鸦传媒檒l make the best of whatever ice time comes his way and is open to filling whatever roles the coaches ask of him.

Above all, Kindree is simply excited to be getting his major junior career off the ground.

乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檙e going to be expecting not to play a lot, but I乌鸦传媒檓 definitely going to use the confidence I have and try and see if I can move my way up the roster,乌鸦传媒� he said. 乌鸦传媒淢ost importantly, I乌鸦传媒檓 happy to be here and playing hockey in Kelowna.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 a beautiful city and being able to call this home for the next eight months, it乌鸦传媒檚 going to be really special.乌鸦传媒�

Kindree and his Rockets teammates will open the WHL preseason schedule Saturday night at Prospera Place against the Victoria Royals. Face off is 7 p.m.