In his nearly three decades with the 乌鸦传媒� organization, Lorne Frey has seen his share of high-end 16-year-old prospects come and go.
A scant few have come to the Western Hockey League club with as much potential and promise as defenceman
If the future unfolds as Frey believes it will, the club乌鸦传媒檚 2016 first-round draft pick from Yorkton, SK., will be a stabilizing force on the Rockets乌鸦传媒� blueline for years to come.
乌鸦传媒淗e乌鸦传媒檚 been very good, everything we expected him to be,乌鸦传媒� said Frey, the Rockets乌鸦传媒� director of player personnel and assistant GM. 乌鸦传媒淲e saw it last year, how good he was as a 15-year-old and he乌鸦传媒檚 continued to improve. He乌鸦传媒檚 very good in all areas of the game, and we were just very fortunate to get him in the draft.
乌鸦传媒淗e乌鸦传媒檚 likely going to be a cornerstone on our back end for hopefully the next three to four years.乌鸦传媒�
To be talked about with the same acclaim as some of the best rearguards ever to wear a Rockets乌鸦传媒� uniform could easily be an overwhelming concept for a player whose WHL career has barely begun.
But Korczak is doing his best to take it all in stride.
乌鸦传媒淭here are some expectations of me, I know they乌鸦传媒檙e high but the coaches are doing a real good job of prepping us and getting the young guys ready for it,乌鸦传媒� said Korczak, the Rockets first choice, 11th overall in last year乌鸦传媒檚 draft. 乌鸦传媒淚 know what I need to do, so if I just play my game and stick to that, I should be fine out here.乌鸦传媒�
Korczak got his feet wet in major junior hockey last season, playing in four regular season games with the Rockets and five more in the playoffs.
It was just the exposure the 6-foot-2, 175-pound defenceman needed to jump-start what the Rockets envision will be a long and prosperous career in the WHL.
乌鸦传媒淚t was huge for me playing in playoffs and regular season last year, getting a good idea of what it takes to play against guys at this level,乌鸦传媒� said Korczak, who had 11 goals and 29 points last season with the Yorkton midget AAA Maulers. 乌鸦传媒淚 came back this year knowing the guys, it乌鸦传媒檚 nice to see them again and be part of this.
乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檓 super lucky to come here and I know the (Rockets) will do everything they can to push me to the next level as a player.乌鸦传媒�
And the Rockets are looking forward to watching Korczak乌鸦传媒檚 progress every step of the way.
乌鸦传媒淗e乌鸦传媒檒l be a top-six guy this year and play lots of minutes in all situations,乌鸦传媒� said Frey. 乌鸦传媒淗e乌鸦传媒檚 an exceptional individual and an exceptional player, we乌鸦传媒檙e fortunate to get him.
乌鸦传媒淗e乌鸦传媒檚 a great skater, he moves the puck well, he乌鸦传媒檚 smart, he competes and has great offensive ability. He乌鸦传媒檚 developed into something special.乌鸦传媒�
Korczak and his Rockets teammates will open their exhibition schedule Saturday night at home to the Victoria Royals. Face off at Prospera Place is 7 p.m.
