Every August, Lorne Frey and his scouting staff get a chance to see the fruits of their labours at the 乌鸦传媒� rookie camp. At the same time, they乌鸦传媒檒l be taking a glimpse into the team乌鸦传媒檚 future.
The Western Hockey League club kicked off the 2018 version of training camp this week, with close to 100 rookies taking to the ice at Prospera Place.
乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檙e looking forward to seeing how all these players have progressed over the summer,乌鸦传媒� said Frey, the Rockets乌鸦传媒� player personnel director and assistant GM.
Among the players drawing the most attention is the Rockets乌鸦传媒� first-round pick, Trevor Wong. The 5-foot-8 forward, who was the Rockets乌鸦传媒� first choice, 18th overall in the 2018 bantam draft, racked up 141 points in just 30 games last season for the St. George乌鸦传媒檚 School Bantam Varsity squad.
乌鸦传媒淗e乌鸦传媒檚 a skilled and dynamic player,乌鸦传媒� said Frey. 乌鸦传媒淗e does everything at a high speed, and if he grows he will be lights out.乌鸦传媒�
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The Rockets also have high hopes for their second-round choice, Elias Carmichael, a 6-foot-1 blueliner from Burnaby Winter Club.
Five of the club乌鸦传媒檚 first seven picks were defensemen, helping the Rockets address their most pressing need.
乌鸦传媒淪ome of our (2001 and 2002-born) defensemen are starting to show some promise, but we knew needed to shore up that area so we focused on getting some, big mobile defensemen in this year乌鸦传媒檚 draft. We乌鸦传媒檙e looking forward to seeing what they can do (at rookie camp) and in years to come.乌鸦传媒�
The rookie camp will run until Friday and Frey expects the club will carry about 10 to 12 players over into main training camp which begins on Saturday at Prospera Place.
As for main camp, assistant coach Kris Mallette said, like the rookies, the Rockets look forward to seeing how the club乌鸦传媒檚 returning players have progressed since last spring.
乌鸦传媒淥ur returning players will need to show management and the coaches that they put the work in over the summer,乌鸦传媒� Mallette said. 乌鸦传媒淭here are never any guarantees so everyone will need to work hard and compete for a spot on the roster.乌鸦传媒�
Kelowna will open its preseason schedule Friday, Aug. 31 at Prospera Place against the Victoria Royals.
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