Rockets Science

Let the games begin!

Tonight at Prospera Place, the Kelowna Rockets embark on the exhibition game portion of the pre-season, with a number of roster spots still up for grabs.

Rookie camp and main camp are both in the books, with initial roster trimming taking place a couple of days ago. There are still a total of 33 players in the mix.

For the players, their excitement and anticipation during the past off-season has culminated in the requisite training camp experience. Now it’s time for the puck to drop in earnest; it’s game day for those continuing to compete to wear a Rockets jersey this season.

The Rockets entertain the Victoria Royals tonight at Prospera Place. The Royals arrive after a loss in Kamloops last evening, while the game marks the Rockets first exhibition tilt of the season.

Kris Mallette

Assistant coach Kris Mallette was excited prior to the prospects coming into camp, confident the hopefuls had been diligent in their preparation. A few players were also busy this summer with auditions for upcoming international events.

“Too often these days players now don’t take enough time off,” Mallette said early on during training camp when asked about off-season preparation. “If you are in one of those (Hockey Canada) programs you’re fortunate to be able to be playing against the best in your age group.

“But these players (all) train very hard during the summer, sometimes a little too hard. We’d like them to take a little time off. But main camp for us was to try and get gelled together as a group as quickly as possible.

“As a staff, we want to try and incorporate what style of play we want to have this year. Our message has to be clear and concise. Whoever gets on the same page quickest will be out of the gates quickly.”

In the very near future, Kole Lind (Vancouver Canucks), Cal Foote (Tampa Bay Lightning) and Devante Stephens (Buffalo Sabres) will head to their respective NHL camps. Lucas Johansen (Washington Capitals) is likely to play professional hockey this season.

It is not inconceivable that import forward Thomas Soustal, now 20, could receive a late invitation as well.

The 20-year-old situation can always be somewhat complex, although final decisions on which three players the team will keep are not required until mid-October.

Gordie Ballhorn was an assistant captain last season, but missed a number of games with two significant injuries. James Hilsendager was a very pleasant surprise after coming over from the Regina Pats in a deal shortly before the halfway point of the season. Both defenceman are steady in the defensive zone, fairly considered to be of the stay-at-home variety.

Soustal, a bull of a power forward with some offensive skills, would be a “two-spotter” if the Rockets keep him in the fold. Twarynski, drafted by the Philadelphia Flyers but unsigned, could also make these decisions more challenging for the Rockets.

It is also not uncommon for WHL teams to keep a 20-year-old goaltender in the mix and Cody Porter could be that guy this season. There is history of doing so in Kelowna, most recently the likes of Jordan Cooke and Adam Brown. Cooke has moved on to play CIS hockey and has been absolutely outstanding in two seasons with the University of Saskatchewan Huskies, while Brown is an assistant coach with the Rockets.

According to Mallette, there certainly is room on the roster for players to earn opportunities.

“From a team standpoint, we have six returning defencemen and Brodan Salmond in goal.” Mallette said. “Up front I think we’ve got the most room for potential players and openings. I think five players that we’re going to have to bring in, along with the additions of the players we brought up in the playoffs like a (Liam) Kindree, a (Kaeden) Korczak or a (Ted) Brennan.”

Konrad Belcourt

Bringing players along slowly is another consideration. A case in point is young rearguard Konrad Belcourt. As a rookie last season, he appeared in 44 games, but was often a healthy scratch as a 16-year-old.

“That’s the maturation of a game and that’s what our expectations are,” Mallette said when asked about the development of youngsters in the WHL. “You don’t want to throw a 16-year-old player into the fire and have them scarred potentially for a few years of play if things don’t go their way.

“For Konrad, for instance, we kind of eased him in. Coming back as a 17-year-old, again you’re very young, but our expectation is that your are vying for top-six position of regular ice time.

“And that’s the same for a 12th or 13th forward from last year, like (Leif) Mattson, (Jack) Cowell, (Connor) Bruggen-Cate. Those are all guys that we would like to see in our lineup on a regular basis, filling in with those younger forwards that are maybe biding their time and proving to us as a staff and organization that they are ready to play.”

With high-octane offensive contributors Nick Merkley (Arizona Coyotes) and Calvin Thurkauf (Columbus Blue Jackets) poised to move on to the professional ranks, someone from the likes of Erik Gardiner, Kyle Topping, Kindree, Mattson and Bruggen-Cate will be looked upon to emerge and fill a top-six role among forwards.

Kole Lind

Also up front, Dillon Dube (Calgary Flames) spoke in an interview with the Calgary Herald in mid-August to his desire to push hard this season at Flames’ camp. He was injured last year in an exhibition game against the Edmonton Oilers, a broken knee, but emerged as a key addition to Team Canada for the 2017 World Junior Championship. Dube signed an entry-level contract last March. He is bound for the annual Young Stars Tournament in Penticton later this month.

Should Dube return to Kelowna, he and Lind would have to be considered the team’s top offensive threats. Lind led the team in scoring last season with 30 goals and 57 assists in 70 games, while Dube chipped in with 20 goals and 35 assists in 40 games.

According to the Rockets, prior to the final day of training camp, 33 players remained in the hunt for roster spots. The group included:

Forwards Carsen Twarynski, Tomas Soustal, Kole Lind, Leif Mattson, Conner Bruggen-Cate, Kyle Topping, Nolan Foote, Jack Cowell, Erik Gardiner, Liam Kindree, Will Kushniryk, Kyle Crosbie, Colum McGauley, Joshua McNeil, Deegan Mofford, Marek Skvrne, Dallon Wilton, Ted Brennan.

Defencemen Devante Stephens, Gordie Ballhorn, James Hilsendager, Braydyn Chizen, Cal Foote, Konrad Belcourt, Kaedan Korczak, Kelvin Hair, Kyle Pow, Libor Zabransky. Cayde Augustine.

Goaltenders Brodan Salmond, Cody Porter, James Porter, Roman Basran.