Mitch Wheaton audio

Rockets land big fish

The Kelowna Rockets have landed a pretty big fish - literally.
The Rockets have announced that 17 year-old  Mitch Weaton has elected to join the Western Hockey League team after entertaining offers from several American based schools.
The 6'5, 215 pound defenceman attended Rockets main camp last month and impressed, but he was undecided if major junior was the path that he wanted to take.
The tenth round draft pick of the Rockets from 2010, will join the team immediately and could be in the line up as quickly as Thursday when the Rockets are in Spokane for their second to last pre-season game.     
The Rockets envision Wheaton being in their top six d-men this season.
The 2010 WHL Draft looks like a good one for the Rockets, who selected Jesse Lees, Madison Bowey, Tyson Baillie, Mitch Wheaton and Austin Ferguson. 

Whistle while you work

The Kelowna Rockets answered the question I asked in my earlier post by acquired 17 year-old goaltender Jackson Whistle from the Vancouver Giants. The Rockets give up a 3rd rounder for the Kelowna resident, who played a backup role with the G-Men last season.
Whistle was the Giants 4th round pick in the 2010 WHL Bantam Draft. Last season, Whistle appeared in 21 games and recorded his first career win in a 20 save shutout victory over the Prince George Cougars.
Whistle will make his Rockets debut tomorrow night against Victoria. Oddly enough, Whistle was the Giants starter last Saturday at Prospera Place in a 3-2 pre-season shootout win.  It marks the fifth time in franchise history the Rockets and Giants have hooked up in a trade.

Things that make me go hmm

• With two exhibition games under their belt, it remains unclear who will backup goaltender Jordon Cooke this season. Cooke has played every minute of the first two games, a one goal win in Ladner and a shootout loss to the Giants at Prospera Place. Cam Barnes has been Cooke's backup on both night's but hasn't seen any game action.
• The announcement this week that Spencer Main's hockey career is over shouldn't come as a surprise. When he failed to suit up for either of the first two pre-season games it raised a red flag. When you've missed as much playing time as Main has over the last year, if healthy, the 20 year-old would be injecting into the line up to work off the rink rust. 
• I have a positive feel about this team heading into a new season. While I haven't spent a lot of time around the players, my general impression is they like one another and have come together quickly as a group. I think they realize that without a group effort they won't have much success this season.
• This season is the 22nd in the history of the Rockets organization. This is the franchises 18th in the Okanagan.
• Damon Severson signed an NHL contract with the New Jersey Devils. While it was made official this week, it actually happened about a week prior to the Devils releasing it to the general public. One of the tough aspects of my job is keeping my mouth shut and letting other media outlets release the details. Once it's released 'officially' by the team, then I don't mind commenting on it. 
• My hope is the new contract spurs Severson to even greater things. For many junior players, awaiting a contract can be a huge distraction while other NHL teams believe holding the carrot out there, dangling before a prospects eyes, encourages them to grow as a player.    
• I wish for the sake of the Rockets players, Ryan Huska and Dan Lambert could transform back into the players they were at the prime of their junior hockey careers. I think everyone would get a better appreciation of how skilled and hard working these two coaches were as players. The cheesy mustache's they also fashioned back then would also provide a chuckle for the players.
• Where will the Rockets finish this season? I can't say they will win the BC Division because the Kamloops Blazers are just too loaded with talent. The Blazers are going to be as good or better than a year ago. I can see them winning 50 games this season. The only difference this season compared to last is the expectations will be far greater then they were at the start of the 2011-2012 campaign.     
• Two players in the Western Conference that will have big years will be Blazers forward Brendan Ranford and Portland's Ty Rattie. That won't surprise anyone after the terrific seasons they had as 19 and 18 year-old's respectively. I could see both of those players putting up between 115 and 130 points each. 
• The Rockets open the regular season on the road in Kamloops. It will be the first time since the team re-located to the Okanagan that they have opened the season by visiting their nearest rival. Weird. Last season the Rockets opened the season in Everett with a 5-4 shootout win. Who scored the game winner? Filip Vasko.
• In the last 16 seasons, the Rockets have played their first game on home ice.
• In 10 of the last 16 seasons, the Rockets have opened the regular season against an American based team.
• AM 1150 is proud to announce a new sports program hitting the airwaves this weekend. Eric Stansfield will be hosting 'Inside Sports', a 90 minute local program that will feature interviews and discussion on hockey, football and other local and provincial sports. Inside Sports can be heard every Saturday afternoon from 5 pm until 6:30 pm and is a nice precursor to our Rockets broadcasts this season.
• Six weeks of holidays are in the books. No, I didn't take them all at once but I am ready to get back to work. The regular season starts two weeks from tonight (Friday) and I think everybody is chomping at the bit to get going.

Smart decision by intelligent player

For the second time in less than four months, a player with the Kelowna Rockets has had to walk away from hockey because of recurring symptoms due to a concussion. Twenty year-old Spencer Main is retiring after playing just 12 regular season games last season. Back in May, teammate Max Adolph also announced he was leaving the game on the advise of doctors. Adolph played 36 games in 2010-2011, but was in and out of the line up that season with no less than four concussions.
Main thought he was on the road to recovery after spending a good portion of the summer in Kelowna under the watchful eye of athletic therapist Jeff Thorburn. Strenuous workouts both on and off the ice went well, but when you throw in the variable of contact, Main's body just couldn't take it. But unlike some who do everything in their power to ignore the obvious, Main listened to his body and made the right decision. 
A WHL championship in 2009 and a nomination as Western Conference Scholastic Player of the Year in 2010, Main can walk away knowing his future is as bright in the business world as it was in hockey when the Rockets made him a second round pick in the 2007 WHL Bantam Draft.

Spencer, all the best!

Thoughts on what was considered final day of main camp

• It shouldn't have come as a surprise that the skill level took a significant jump on the final day of two a day scrimmages at Kelowna Rockets main camp. The majority of the goals that were scored in the morning sessions - the one I attended - were much nicer than the greasy ones we saw during the early portions of training camp. One thing that I took away from the morning sessions was the same question I had in my head before camp even began. Which goaltender would step up as Jordon Cooke's back up? I'm as confused as ever with none of the goaltenders separating themselves from the pack. I guess that's what pre-season is for.
• The three players that stood out for me in the morning scrimmage were veterans Carter Rigby, Tyson Baillie and rookie Rourke Chartier. Baillie has found his groove with some offensive success and scored a beauty on a in-tight chip shot that went inside the far post. Rigby used his hard shot to blow one by Team Orange goalie Thomas Spence and also opened up the scoring on a nice close in opportunity. Rigby, the Rockets co-winner for rookie of the year, should have another solid season in the attacking zone.  
• Rourke Chartier has clearly done everything right at main camp. The 16 year-old blew away everyone in physical testing and is scoring goals in the scrimmages I've witnessed. Honestly, I had low expectations for him heading into training camp because of his age, but he obviously made some huge strides last winter with the Saskatoon Contacts. It will be interesting to see how he matches up in pre-season action.
• Speaking of Baillie, I ran into his dad before the morning scrimmage. Tyson looks so much like his father Shaun. Scary...in a good way mind you.
• Rookie 16 year-old Christopher Gerrie has impressed me. While not overly big, Gerrie finds himself creating good scoring chances and is always around the puck. I know little about him but he is turning my head at main camp.
• I sure liked the play of Tanner Moar in the morning session. The lanky forward had some good chances to score and even got into a scrap.  Moar and Austin Ferguson are two players that have to 'bring it' in pre-season with so many good young players taking notice. Just my opinion here, but I think Colton Heffley would also fall into that category.     
• Not much else to add outside of the Rockets preparing for a home and home series with the Vancouver Giants. Friday's game is in Ladner before the two teams hook up again Saturday night at Prospera Place.

Good day for the goal scorers, not the goalies

• It was a tough scrimmage for the goaltenders and a great morning for the shooters in day two of Kelowna Rockets main camp. No goaltender stood out, outside of a no quit effort from goaltender Jake Morrissey with the paddle of his stick before Austin Ferguson scored on a secondary chance. Ryan Olsen scored three times for Team Green and Tyson Baillie wasn't outdone with three of his own for Team Blue. Olsen has been very good in the scrimmages with GM Bruce Hamilton saying he looks "extremely good". It doesn't matter if he impresses me. If you are catching the eye of Hamilton, job accomplished.  
• It was nice to see Baillie score and score often. The about to turn 17 year-old has a good release and can definitely cause headaches for opposition goaltenders. Scoring is all about confidence and Baillie likely lost some of that after leading the team in pre-season scoring. Now a year older and a season under his belt, let's hope Baillie finds the score sheet more often this season. 
• The Rockets sent the majority if not all of their 15 year-old drafted players back to their respective teams for this season. That includes first round pick Nick Merkley, who is headed back to Calgary. Merkley will undoubtedly get a chance to wear Rockets colours sometime during this season as the club makes a trip through Alberta.
• So with Merkley and Morrissey headed back home, the numbers drop significantly at training camp. Workable numbers for the team heading into their first pre-season game this weekend is likely between 25 and 27 players. I think the team would like to keep a large number of players around in case four to five members do indeed attend NHL training camps. Damon Severson, Colton Sissons, Ryan Olsen and possibly Myles Bell would be headed out of town to impress at the pro level.
• If you are wondering where 20 year-old d-man Mitchell Chapman has been this week, he's been out of action with a sprained ankle suffered in practice. 
• How many 16 year-olds will the team keep this season? It looks like Rourke Chartier and Riley Stadel have done enough so far to earn a spot, but that could change if they falter in pre-season. If Wednesday's workout was any indication, Austin Glover could make a pitch to join that group. The 16 year-old showed good skating ability in the morning session.    
• Maybe a new look physically translates into a new approach on the ice for Zach Franko. The hair is a little longer...in fact a lot longer than in the past and the determination to prove he is better than his streaky performance last season appears to be on his mind. Now 19, Franko looks like a new man. 
• The Rockets could carry as high as eight d-man to start the season. Bowey, Severson, Bell, Chapman, Martin, Johnston, Lees and Stadel would make up that group.
• In the comments section I was asked about Myles Bell and Tyrell Goulbourne. First off, we are speaking about two players I really like off the ice. Bell and I get along real well and I think the d-man has some of the most God given hockey ability of anyone on the Rockets roster. Bell can do so many incredible things that many of us just haven't yet seen. Bell's shot is obviously pro like...we've witnessed that. Now he needs to ramp up on the intensity side of his game. That will happen this season. Mark my words. Goulbourne is a favourite for mine for many reasons. Sure, he will defend a teammate and has plenty of success when he scraps, but he loves playing the game and is a good character guy to have in the dressing room. My hope is 'Goulby' doesn't get too caught up in fighting and rounds out his game this season. Don't get me wrong, I want him to stand up and be noticed by the opposition, but he can do some real good things with his gloves on.

Getting to know Ryan Olsen

Quick thoughts on day one

• The opening day of main camp didn't disappoint. The opening scrimmage saw Ryan Olsen score twice in Team Green's one goal win over Team Orange. Olsen comes as advertised. A nose for the net, you can see why he is so highly touted. Olsen finds himself in good positions to score...a good sign for a player who appears to have good finish. Olsen doesn't need a lot of chances to score, but when he gets a chance he makes you pay. I don't want to pump his tires too much considering it's just a scrimmage, but I liked what I saw from the 18 year-old forward. 
• Rookie Nick Merkley was on the losing end as a member of Team Orange, but he is clearly a special player. The 15 year-old reminds me a little bit of a young Colin Long. Merkley has soft hands, is a little under sized right now (he is playing against older competition obviously) but the one thing Merkley possesses that Long didn't was his determination to get the puck on his stick when someone else has it. The lazy player waits for it to come to him. The determined player will scratch your eye out to get it away from you and back on his stick.   
• In the morning session, both Jordon Cooke and rookie Jake Morrissey didn't allow a goal for Team Green. Morrissey surprised me at how big he looked. The 15 year-old covers a lot of net. Cooke is just steady. If Morrissey was a year older, I could see those two being teammates this season with Cooke as the starter and Morrissey as his understudy. 
• I think the Rockets scouting staff deserve a tip of the cap for drafting three quality goaltenders in the last five drafts. Cooke (2008), Thomas Spence (2011) and Morrissey (2012) all look like solid choices. It hasn't always been that way though. The last drafted goaltender to play regular minutes was Kristofer Westblom, who was taken in the 4th round in 2002. Brown, Guggenberger, Bendera, Guard, Swanson and Jung were either listed players or netminders acquired through trade. There is nothing wrong with dealing for a goalie, but it sure is nice to pick a quality one in the draft. 
• Cole Martin and Damon Severson both looked composed in the opening scrimmage. Martin has to be playing with confidence after his tryout with the Dallas Stars prospects this summer. That's what makes those experiences so valuable. You play against tougher competition and you learn from it. Martin went to class this summer with the Stars and came out a better student. That's why it will be a shame if several Rockets are unable to attend an NHL camp because of a lockout. 
• I thought I interviewed a different Damon Severson Tuesday afternoon. A more focused player than a year ago, Severson, I believe, finally knows what commitment is needed to get to the next level. It finally clicked in for Tyler Myers at 19, which means Severson is ahead of the game. It doesn't hurt when you've been surrounded by pro's like Curtis Leschyshyn and Jarome Iginla for a good portion of the summer.
• The opening scrimmage saw a scrap between Severson and captain Colton Sissons. This is how Severson explained the fisticuffs to me afterwards. "It was one of those things in the heat of the game. Maybe he (Sissons) thought I checked him a little funny there, but it was good and no hard feelings between us and it was good to get the boys going and open the eyes for the younger guys".  
• It was nice to see Spencer Main out on the ice Tuesday. To think, he is now the only player from the Rockets draft class of 2007 that remains with the team. Colton Jobke and Antoine Corbin were traded away while Max Adolph's career was cut short by a concussion. Brett Bulmer's WHL days are over as the now 20 year-old turns pro this season.   

Meet Henrik Nyberg

What did you think when the Kelowna Rockets selected you in the CHL Import Draft?  

"I heard it was a nice city. I talked to Mikael Backlund, who plays for Calgary (Flames) now, and he just told me good things about the city. The big difference here compared to back home is the spectators. In Sweden we only have like 200".

Why is the WHL a good fit for you?

"I played in Sweden in the under 17, which is like a junior league. It was kinda good actually. I think Kelowna is better."  


You are not drafted by an NHL team. Why do you think you were overlooked?

"I think it is a lot of scouts can see you here than they can in Sweden.....maybe one scout at every game. You can show what you can do more here".

What can you bring to this team?

"I think I am a power forward but I am a skilled player too. I like to shoot a lot. I think I can bring some goals to this team", Nyberg said with a chuckle.

And you like to hit?

"Ya, I like it. My old team I was a power forward so I was a guy that hit guys and gave energy to the team".

What's it like to be so far away from home?

"My parents maybe are kinda scared. I think they miss me when I am here but I call them every day so it not a problem for me".

Note: Nyberg's dad is a banker. He has three brothers, two which are older.

Chartier serves notice and Main is now an old man

• He won't be the most talented player at Kelowna Rockets main camp this week, but he could be considered one of the most committed. Sixteen year-old Rourke Chartier, the Rockets first pick in the WHL Bantam draft two years ago, was the top performer in the teams physical testing in the 5 K run. That is no small feat for a young player who is trying to earn a spot on the team and therefore bypassing another year of midget hockey with the Saskatoon Contacts. Does Chartier's impressive showing send a message to the coaching staff that he did everything in his power to make sure he was in top physical shape heading into training camp? No question. He won't earn a spot because of his impressive showing on the track, but any time one of the youngest players leads the pack you have to be impressed.
• Who's that picture of the young guy holding that Medicine Hat Tigers puck? That is a blurry-eyed Spencer Main the day after scoring his first career WHL goal at the 'Arena' in Medicine Hat. Now 20, time has flown by for Main, who is one of just two overagers on the Rockets roster. With the graduation of Brett Lyon, Cody Chikie and Adam Brown, The pride of North Vancouver is joined by Mitchell Chapman as the two elder statesmen on this years team. Will the Rockets add a third? Unless you are in a huge rebuilding phase, having three 20 year-old's is always the best option.
• Close to 60 players make up three teams at main camp. 
• After what seemed to be forever at the Capital News Centre, everyone is back at Prospera Place. The most relieved has to be athletic therapist Jeff Thorburn. It must have been a huge pain to bring all of the teams gear to an alternate location for rookie camp.
• My guess is the Rockets will have close to eight goalies at main camp, including veteran Jordon Cooke. The back up battle could be the most interesting. Now that James Fisk is out of the picture and is trying out with Canmore of the Alberta Junior Hockey League, 16 year-old  Thomas Spence will be the one to watch. Why Spence? He was the Rockets 5th round pick in 2011. Clearly Spence and 15 year-old Jacob Morrissey are the franchises goalies of the future.      
• If the Rockets elect to keep three 16 year-old's this season, Riley Stadel and Austin Glover have a good shot of being in the mix. I really liked Stadel's composure when he dressed with the team last season in Vancouver. Stadel was the Rockets third round pick in 2011 behind Austin Glover (2nd overall) and Chartier (1st overall).  I haven't seen Rourke Chartier in game action, so for the moment Stadel is the most WHL ready. Glover may have turned the corner though, after a decent year with the Saskatoon Contacts. 
• Tuesday mornings scrimmage will give me a chance to see two new players that could bring a lot to the table this season. Ryan Olsen, acquired in the Shane McColgan deal this summer, should add some much needed size down the middle. I will also be watching Swedish forward Henrik Nyberg with interest in the opening scrimmage. Will he be an impact player or an innocent bystander? The last Swedish born player to make an impact on the Rockets was Alex Edler. 'Eddie' didn't say much, but the dude could play.
• With the chance of a NHL lockout looming large, you have to feel for Colton Sissons, Ryan Olsen and Damon Severson. All three were drafted in June, yet all three may be staying in Kelowna rather than attending their first ever NHL training camps. 

Separated at birth

Separated at birth. Former Kelowna Rockets/Swift Current Broncos/Seattle Thunderbirds Kyle Verdino and Philadelphia Eagles and West Kelowna resident Danny Watkins.

Questions heading into main camp

• Who will be backing up Jordon Cooke? Cooke finds himself in the drivers seat as a Western Hockey League starting goaltender. Spending the last two seasons playing second fiddle to Adam Brown, Cooke showed great promise in limited duty as a 17 and 18 year-old. Now 19, Cooke is ready for prime time and should make the easy transition to the starting role. But unlike Brown, Cooke doesn't have the luxury of having a reliable back up. Who will take on that role? With a raw rookie stepping forward, Cooke, the Rockets 4th round bantam pick from 2008, may see between 60 and 65 starts this season. The Rockets club record for starts by a goalie is 68, set by Kevin Swanson in 1999-2000.
•  Can the Rockets win consistently at home? One of the concerns for the team last year was their inability to win at home. Prospera Place seemed to bring out the worst in the Rockets and the best in the opposition. The Rockets won just 16 games on home ice in 2011-2012, one more than the 15 they managed to win on the road. Half of their home dates (18) resulted in no points at the end of the night leaving fans unhappy and the coaches sour. The players didn't like it either. Home ice dominance needs to return after plaguing the team the last two seasons.
• Who leads the team in scoring? Shane McColgan led the Rockets the last two seasons but he was traded this off-season to Saskatoon. Captain Colton Sissons should come to mind considering his 26 goals, but could the player the Rockets received from the Blades in the McColgan deal rise to the top of the scoring leader board? Ryan Olsen had 15 goals as a sophomore forward and arguably could double those totals with first line minutes and power play time. A first round bantam pick of the Blades in 2009, wouldn't it be ironic if Olsen and Sissons, who was also Blades property before being acquired in the Curt Gogol trade, were 1-2 in team scoring?

• Euro scoring is always a concern. As hard as he tried last season, Slovakian born Filip Vasko failed to find the back of the net as a WHL rookie. The 18 year-old is back for another crack at making the squad, but will be hard pressed if the Buffalo Sabres send first round draft pick Zemgus Girgensons to major junior. If Girgensons lands in Kelowna, problem solved. If that doesn't happen, how good is Swedish forward Henrik Nyberg?  Nyberg was taken along with Girgenson in the CHL Import Draft this summer which tells you the team wants to upgrade in that department and Vasko will be hard pressed to earn a spot. The Rockets would give anything to have a European forward score in the neighbourhood of 20 goals. If Girgensons lands on the Rockets doorstep, 20 goals could be attained by the 18 year-old power forward by Christmas.  

• Can Spencer Main contribute? After a 19 year-old season he would like to forget, can the now 20 year-old stay healthy enough and rebound from a series of concussions to lead his team in the ever  important leadership department? While Sissons is the captain, Main carries with him a lot of respect from his teammates and would be a helping hand to Sissons. A fifth year player with the organization, Main should be good for 20 goals despite his best work at the opposite end of the ice as a reliable face-off man and defender. Let's hope the hockey gods look favorably upon him this season and he stays as far away as possible from the helpful hands of athletic therapist Jeff Thorburn. 
• The Rockets dressed one of the youngest teams in the WHL last season, which included two-16 year-old defencemen and a forward. It was a steep learning curve for Madison Bowey and Jesse Lees and rookie Tyson Baillie found a greater appreciation for WHL goaltending. Who is next in line to make the team at the tender age of 16? With a strong finish to his season with the Saskatoon Contacts, you would think Rourke Chartier has a legitimate shot at earning a roster spot. While he is a first round pick from two years ago, I don't think the Rockets want to rush him into the league prematurely. It all depends on how good he is at training camp.  If you look traditionally at how the Rockets handle first round selections, Chartier has played his last game of midget hockey.
• What questions are on your mind heading into this season? Leave your comment below.