Crowded crease

Goaltending will be crucial in the early stages of this abbreviated season.

Scoring chances will likely be plentiful as teams suffer break-downs in their own zone.

"I think the beginning of any season, you see a significant amount of breakdowns, whether that is turnovers or missed assignments in the defensive zone. This year will be a bit more than normal because of the rust that a lot of guys have."       

Rockets goaltendering coach Adam Brown says the team will implement three goaltenders this season.

Roman Basran and Cole Schwebius return along with newcomer Nick Cristiano.

"He is very astute. He is extremely athletic. He has long limbs. He promotes himself big towards the puck and he has a high compete level," Brown added.  

Put your money on Basran starting Friday in the season opener against the Royals.

The 19 year-old got the call last year and was the winning goaltender in a 4-3 overtime victory against the visiting Spokane Chiefs.

Scoring by committee a must

Who will score goals for the Kelowna Rockets this season?

"With the type of system I would like to implement, you will see some more offence coming from the back end. I think it will be by committee". 

Head Coach Kris Mallette will look down the bench and won't see Matthew Wedman, Nolan Foote, Kyle Topping or Pavel Novak.

Wedman, Foote and Topping are playing pro hockey while the team was unable to secure a visa for Novak.

"We want to see Dillon Hamaliuk come back the way he ended and started the season with renewed confidence," Mallette added.

The 20 year-old was excepted to play pro hockey this season after signing a three year entry level contract with the San Jose Sharks. But the NHL team typically doesn't like to rush their prospects and believe Hamaliuk's up and down season shows he needs more seasoning.

"Dave Kope, another player that we acquired, he can score goals. Big years are going to have to be had by a bunch of our 19 year-old's. Mark Liwiski, Alex Swetlikoff, you are hoping that these guys gain a lot of confidence early and ride it out for this shortened season."    

How much fire power have the Rockets lost from a season ago?

Over 200 points, with 19 year-old d-man Kaedan Korczak the top returning player after racking up 49 points in 60 games.

Like father, like son

Curtis Hamilton knows something about hockey.

He played in the WHL.

He played for Canada at the World Juniors and at the Spengler Cup. 

He even played a game in the NHL with the Edmonton Oilers. 

Hamilton will now join the Rockets coaching staff - temporarily - in a secondary role.

The 29 year-old is looking forward to working with the players.

Hopefully that makes me more approachable and helps them in whatever walk of life they continue to do, whether in be in hockey or whatever they do. I just want to give them (players) the life lessons and whatnot that I have learned and pass that along them."   

Hamilton is typically overseas at this time of the year, but like many, his season with the Belfast Giants never happened due to COVID-19.
  
Making the most out of a bad situation, with no title, Hamilton will help where he can.

"I am not entirely sure what I will kind of be doing. I think I am going to be extra hands and feet to help out and do whatever Kris, Vernon and Adam want me to do. Like I said, more eyes for Kris just to help out in this condensed season they have coming up."       

If you are wondering, Hamilton is the son of Kelowna Rockets GM Bruce Hamilton.

Hardship makes rookie easy to embrace

 It was a revealing interview. 

I didn't see it coming.

I spoke to Kelowna Rockets rookie d-man William (Will) Irvine on Tuesday.

He was asked about the most influential person in his hockey career.  

The conversation became heart felt in a hurry.

"My dad got me started pretty much as soon as I can remember. I was skating and shooting and going to an outdoor rink pretty much every day. He passed away when I was five."    

His father's name was Wayne. He died of a heart attack. 

"I don't want to say I got used to it. I tried to keep it as normal as I could and I always worked hard and that's what got me here". 

What makes the story even more heart felt is how a nearby family in Morden, Manitoba, who's son now plays with the Victoria Royals (Trentyn Crane) became like a second family to Irvine.  

William (Will) knows his father is watching.

"He told me how to skate. He taught me how to shoot a puck. Obviously pretty much every game I play, I play for him and try to make him proud".  

I cheer for them all, but after hearing his revealing story, it's hard not to cheer just a little bit harder for Rockets rookie d-man William (Will) Irvine. 

The price of playing in a pandemic

If you want to play junior hockey during a pandemic, you have to pay a price.

Health officials require the Victoria Royals, Prince George Cougars and Vancouver Giants to quarantine for a week - in a hotel - before resuming practice. 

A bed. 

A bathroom and food delivered to your door. 

No going outside. 

Prince George Head Coach Mark Lamb admits its an odd way to spend a week in Kelowna or Kamloops. 

"We are just following all the prodigals, right to a tee. We all got tested yesterday. We will get tested again. I think when practice starts, it will change everything for these kids." 

How did the COVID test go for the personable Lamb? 

"It was absolutely nothing. It took five seconds. We are not getting the nose one done. That one is probably a little more uncomfortable. It didn't bother me one bit." 

If you think the Kelowna Rockets and Kamloops Blazers are getting off scot free, think again. They are quarantining for a week too, in their billet homes.

Backup not about to take a back seat

Shoot the Breeze Photo

If you think this abbreviated 24 game season in the BC Division is a waste of time, think again. 

It's huge for the draft eligible players who will be under a microscope with over 60 NHL scouts - per game - allowed into the building to watch.

It's also massive for players like Kelowna Rockets goaltender Cole Schwebius, who is undrafted and turns 20 in April.

The Kelowna born prospect may have lost a season of development when COVID-19 came crashing down, but the personable last line of defence, used the downtime to work on his game.  

"I have had a lot of time to be able to go on the ice with the coaches and work on the technical aspects of my game. Even off the ice, I have had the time to work on my daily routine and mentally, so I think I will come back better than I ever have."  

With no WHL season, Schwebius played an exhibition game with the BCHL's West Kelowna Warriors before spending a month with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks.

"It was just so much fun to go out there and play again. It was a nice reminder that this is what we are working for right now. Obviously this isn't going to last forever. You are going to be able to play hockey again. Just keep working. Just remember to have fun and go out there and play," Schwebius added.        

With limited ice time playing behind Roman Basran, Schwebius picked up 7 wins in 2019-2020 -- 5 of them came on the road.  

Extended stay but no vacay

It will go down as the longest hotel stay in the history of the Victoria Royals.

The WHL team will spend over 40 nights at the Coast Capri Hotel in Kelowna in an effort to play hockey.

Head Coach Dan Price says it will be strange playing all of their games on the road.

"At the end of the day this really is a short term competition. Twenty-four games in 48 days, I don't think it will have the same feel as a normal regular season. This is going to feel more like a sprint. Like a tournament. You have to break that out into small chunks of games where you really try to feel like the home team when you can."

It will be anything but a vacation for the Royals, who will make the Coast Capri Hotel their home away from home.

"Yes we are going out on the road. We are going to be a remote outpost and we will be operating that way. The City of Kelowna, the Rockets organization and the league have all been tremendous to make sure we have what we need there," Price added.

The Coast is operated by Royals majority owner Graham Lee.      

The Royals open the abbreviated season March 26th against the Kelowna Rockets.

Rookie enters season with little fan fair

 Shea Weber.

Jamie Benn.

Josh Gorges.

What do they all have in common?

All played for the Kelowna Rockets. All played in the NHL. All were never chosen in the WHL bantam draft.

The same can be said for 17 year-old Scott Cousins, who will play for the Rockets as an undrafted player.

Listed by Lorne Frey more than a year ago, Cousins will try to make the transition from midget to major junior.

"The jump from minor midget with a bunch of 16 year-old's to the WHL isn't a small leap. I am looking forward to it though. I am skilled enough to compete at that level".    

Cousins is one of 11 rookies on this years roster.

"My parents know this is something I have been working for for as long as I can remember. They have been awesome. They have given me everything in their power to get me to this level," Cousin added.

The well spoken rookie will also have to make the transition to a billet family for the first time, after having the luxury of living at home with parents Bill and Cheryl.

Basran always ready to learn

When he was younger, YouTube got in the way. 

Goaltender Roman Basran was too busy watching video clips of ex-Vancouver Canuck Roberto Luongo making saves, that he didn't pay enough attention to what really matters. Now a few years older, the 19 year-old values his East Indian heritage, and during the pandemic, took it upon himself to learn Punjabi. 

"My grandparents speak it. My great grandparents speak it. My dad speaks it. Now that we had some time now, it is good to dig down into your roots, learn a few things about your culture and about your ethnicity. I thought I would pick up a little bit of Punjabi might help me make friendships in the future." 

It's been a steep learning curve for the soft spoken Basran, who seems to open up verbally when asked about what is really important to him - his family and the language is common place with his ancestors. 

"It is hard to learn it. Like I feel for the most part it is in my blood so I can say the words correctly, for the most part, but I can't understand all the words, especially when they speak fast," the Delta, BC resident added. 

Basran has also draw great inspiration from his 98 year-old great grand father, who immigrated to Canada with virtually nothing and made a good life for himself and his family in the lumber industry.

Negative Ned and Negative Nancy. Who needs 'em!

Shoot the Breeze Photography

You will always have those that view life with a glass half empty approach. You know them. They are negative, cynical and always choose to look at the bad things in life. We know them as 'Negative Ned' or 'Negative Nancy'. Take your pick. The one common trait is picking apart what only positive people see as a good thing. They thrive on it. It oddly, brings them satisfaction to rain on other people's parade. With the WHL attempting to formulate some kind of 24 game season for the players, those with the loudest voice will try to persuade you why we shouldn't be doing it. They will say it isn't safe. The games are a waste of time. Can't we just wait until September when everyone is assured of getting the vaccine? But I am here to tell you that the WHL season, or whatever you want to call it, is worth saving and playing.

The Players: It's all about the players. It really is. At its core, it's important for these players to be out on the ice playing against their peers. For some, it's a chance to get back to some sense of normalcy. They've been stuck at home for months and months hoping and waiting for a season to start. They say practice makes perfect, but nothing compares to playing competitive hockey. Zero. Nothing. These guys need to play for their mental health. Everyone needs a mental boost. Bring it on!

The NHL Draft: For the draft eligible guys, they need to showcase themselves. The saving grace may be the 2021 NHL Draft being bumped back a year, which is all fine and good, but the Logan Stankoven's of the world need to strut their stuff and show they are a heck of a whole lot better than they were in their rookie seasons. I'd rather see Stankoven - sorry to use him as the poster boy in this argument - strutting his stuff in our league than elsewhere. And heck, Stankoven and many more elite players chose our league, yes I say our league, when they had other options. They committed to us. Now we - as a league - need to commit to them. See how I used the word 'us' and 'our' and 'we' when talking about the WHL? It's because without them, I wouldn't be employed doing what I love to do. I've always said, I will criticize the WHL when warranted, but when people take pot shots at them from afar because they have an axe to grid, I will get my back up to defend the 22 team circuit.

Decision Time: If you are 17-18 or 19, these 24 games give you a chance to prove to yourself and those around you that you haven't plateaued. That you've developed. That you are better than last March when the season was put on pause and eventually scrapped. This also allows the coaching staff to see if these players fit into the long term plans of the organization. Is an 18 year-old good enough to be a massive contributor a season from now when he is 19? Or do we bump up a younger player on the depth chart as the 18 year-old isn't any better than a 16 or 17 year-old teammate? For the 19 year-old's, it is proving that you are worthy of earning three 20 year-old spots next fall, when everyone has had a needle in their arm and we can play a full 2021-2022 season.

The 20's: For the 20 year-old's it's important to play. It literally gives them a chance to play one last time and essentially end their junior careers on the right note. It's saying goodbye, but in a different way by going out on their terms. Can you imagine what it was like for all of the overagers across the league last season not having that same opportunity? Brutal. 

The Fans: It's good for the fans to get involved too. They need the distraction. No, seriously they do. Who doesn't? While not allowed in the building for COVID-19 reasons, many eye balls will follow the action, but in a different way. Efforts are being made to bump up the streaming of the games. I anticipate hardcore fans watching from home and cheering on their hometown team while gazing into their laptop or home computer. It will feel odd at first, but wasn't mask wearing strange at the start and now it feels as normal as brushing your teeth.  

So, in conclusion, to say these 24 games are irrelevant or meaningless is so short sighted. Look big picture. While the only banners raised will be divisional ones, the positives of dropping the puck far outweigh the negatives. And for those wanting to choose negative over positive, let's allow those people to wallow in their own misery.

I will take the WHL, in any form, over what we've witnessed over the last 10+ months. 

Young and Restless

Trevor Wong stands his ground. (Photo: Shoot the Breeze)  

The year was 1980.

Rock band Prism came out with a song, 'Young and Restless'.

Could this be the Kelowna Rockets theme song if they take to the ice during this abbreviated season?

With just 24 games and no suggestion of the playoffs, or even a league championship being awarded this spring, why not play the young guns?

The 2020-2021 edition has no lack of players that are wet behind the ears.  

It could be the largest array of 16 and 17 year-old talent we've seen the Rockets ice in years.

The number of players born in 2003 is staggering.

Trevor Wong, Jackson DeSousa, Noah Dorey, Dylan Whitman, Steel Quiring, Turner McMillan and Elias Carmichael are 7 names that have played a game in the WHL. Carmichael leads that group with 59 games under his belt with Trevor Wong a close second having dressed for 58 games in his rookie season.

Would the team consider playing four 16 year-old's? Those born in 2004 include Nolan Flaman, Rilen Kovacevic and listed players John Babcock and Scott Cousins.

That's 11 players 17 or younger.  

What also opens the window for the 'young guns' is the loss of veteran players like Matthew Wedman, Nolan Foote, Kyle Topping and Connor McDonald. Three of those four aged-out while Foote will play pro in the American Hockey League with the New Jersey's minor league affiliate - the Binghamton Devils.

Also gone are Michael Farren and Devin Steffler, who were placed on waivers and would have been 20 year-old's had they returned. Those three overage spots will be taken up by newly acquired David Kope ( trade with Edmonton), veteran Liam Kindree and d-man Sean Comrie. I would think their may be an outside chance of getting Dillon Hamaliuk back if the AHL isn't able to play this season because of  COVID-19. Hamaliuk is signed by the San Jose Sharks. Seeing 'Hammer' back in Kelowna colours, if we indeed play, would be a long shot at best.      

At 19, you will see veteran blueliner Kaedan Korczak back, but can the same be said for leading scorer Pavel Novak? Back in his home country in the Czech Republic, will he be allowed to fly into Canada from overseas? Word is the Edmonton Oil Kings won't be bringing in 19 year-old Czech d-man Simon Kubicek for the abbreviated season. He was acquired a week ago from the Seattle Thunderbirds. Kubicek will be a two-spotter when he plays in Edmonton in his overage season in the fall of 2021.  

But for now, let's not worry about who will play and who won't.  

Let's just get the green light from the health officials to play before proceeding to dissect the Rockets roster ad nauseam. 

Proud Mom!

 

Christmas came early for the Korczak family.

Tricia Korczak was the first to learn her son, Kaedan, had made the roster for Team Canada.

The Kelowna Rockets defenceman became the 18th member of the organization to earn the right to wear the maple leaf at the world junior hockey championships.

"I got an email early in the morning from Hockey Canada and they thought it would be cool if the parents notified the players they have made the team. So, Kaedan's dad and my son Ryder made a FaceTime call to him. I said to Kaedan, we have bad news this morning, you won't be home for Christmas," Tricia said with a chuckle.

While she didn't sleep well the night prior wondering if her son would make the team, there was a sense of relief for all involved.

"It was nerve wracking, the whole thing. I am humbled and honoured that he has a chance to do that. With all of the COVID and the quarantine, it was a bummer for the players and the staff. The mental part of the game must have been difficult  to stay positive, but Hockey Canada did all they could to keep them entertained."

The good news is Kaedan Korczak made the team. The bad news is mom, Tricia, won't be in the arena in Edmonton where the tournament will be played over the Christmas holidays.

"It's terrible. I don't know what it would be like to be at a world junior hockey championship, but I bet it is pretty cool."

Instead, Tricia Korczak will be cheering on her son as she and he family in Yorkton, Saskatchewan watch TSN intently.      

Getting the itch

Dressing up - no where to go:  Here we are. November. Darker. Colder. Halloween is in the rear view mirror and my Christmas lights are already up. Isn't there hockey to be played? I even tried on some of my dress clothes the other night that I typically wear up in the broadcaster booth. The good news? I haven't gained COVID-19 weight as my size 32 waist remains and my collared shirts can be buttoned to the very top. My turkey neck hasn't yet emerged. First sign of turkey neck? When you have to lift your head higher in photos in an effort to disguise the triple chin you are sporting.       

Photo Evidence: Do you ever look at a hockey photo and marvel at all the talent assembled on one team? I found this gem taken by Marissa Baecker from March of 2015 and the faces and names just pop out at you. That team was loaded.  

Friendly Fire: Arch rivals on the ice and roommates off it. Kelowna Rockets forward Mark Liwiski spent the majority of the summer right here in Kelowna rooming with former Prince George Cougars forward Josh Maser. Maser is 21. Liwiski is 19. Does that translate into a messy apartment? "One week I will do the dishwasher and clean and then the next week he will do the dishwasher and garbage. It also helps that my girlfriend stops by and she likes to clean up, so it's good". 'Louie', a nickname given to him by his teammates, realizes that his window of playing pro is closing and it's time to make hay on his hockey career. "My next two years, obviously, I am going to want to put up quite a big leap in numbers, so for sure my leadership will bounce off that". With 8 fighting majors last season, the 19 year-old wanted to make an impact with a long playoff run and success at the 2020 Memorial Cup. "It was pretty disappointing, but you can't hang your head. I just have to brush it off and remember what it felt like and take it into next year." Liwiski spent the summer working at Quail Ridge, which is home to the Quail and Bear golf courses. While doing lawn maintenance, he was able to get in a more than a few rounds this summer. As a side note, older brother Andrew is playing college hockey in Wisconsin this winter. 

Welcome to the jungle! No, that's not it. Welcome to the bubble Kaedan Korczak. The 19 year-old has a real good chance of representing his country at the upcoming World Junior Hockey Championships. Korczak is one of 46 players invited to Hockey Canada's month long evaluation camp in Red Deer - November 16th to December 13th. It shouldn't come as no surprise. Korczak has represented Canada several times, including winning gold at the 2018 Hlicka Cup. If he can crack the final roster, he will be the first Rockets player since Nolan Foote, who won gold at last year's tournament.

Shouldering the load: At last count, defenceman Sean Comrie had all 10 fingers intact as he spent the summer with a handsaw building decks back in Edmonton. You can't blame the 20 year-old for being safety conscious after separating his shoulder last December in Regina. "I was in on a two-on-one and I shot the puck and the d-man slid and I tripped over him and went full speed into the boards - sideways. When I got up, I knew something was wrong and I had a feeling it was separated." The road to recovery was a long one for Comrie, who separated it again - in practice. "It was difficult coming back and trying to play and not be afraid of contact. It is always in the back of your mind that if you take a weird hit, something will go wrong again." Having undergone surgery after playing in just 35 games as a rookie, Comrie wants to stay healthy this season. "Being an older player, I want to be a leader on the team and play my game and make an impact. I think if I do that, hopefully I will stick with the team." Comrie will start the season in the AJHL. He has been loaned to the Spruce Grove Saints.

Wet behind ears: The future is bright for 15 year-old Andrew Cristall. The pride of Burnaby was the Rockets 1st round pick, 8th overall, in the most recent WHL bantam draft. "I was so excited. It is such a great organization. I am stoked to be a part of it". How did draft day unfold back on April 22nd? "We woke up pretty early. We put the draft on our TV in the living room. We got to the 8th pick and it was Kelowna and I was hoping I was going to get picked. When it happened we were jumping up and down and starting hugging each other. It was a pretty exciting moment. It was pretty cool." Cristall is a special player in his own right, but his selection takes on added significance. He was long time director of player personnel Lorne Frey's final first round pick in the scouts illustrious career. "I have a really high hockey IQ. I think my hands and vision are pretty good as well.  I am a really competitive player and I like to win, so I am going to do whatever it takes." The hope is Cristall will develop into the team's leading scorer in his 18 or 19 year-old seasons. One can only hope he can be half the player of 'Burnaby Joe' - NHL hockey hall of famer Joe Sakic.   

Loaded with alumni: Up until last season, the Kelowna Rockets never had three former players behind the bench - as coaches - at the exact same time. Kris Mallette is the head coach. Vernon Fiddler is his assistant and Adam Brown is the goaltending coach. Brown played 4 seasons after the Rockets plucked him off waivers from the Kitchener Rangers. "I didn't know where Kelowna was. I got my flight. I came up here. Once I saw the city and saw the team and the way it was run, I said there is no way I am going anywhere else." Brown is the son of Vancouver Canucks assistant coach Newell Brown. "Through the course of my career, he made a point of not getting in the way. Not getting in the way, but stepping in and giving me that extra advantage. He wanted me to make my own path." Brown was also a member of the 2009 WHL championship team. "There was one practice where Jamie Benn, Ian Duval and I think Colin Long was on that line and it wasn't even fair. It was a 3 on 2 drill, a 2 on 1 drill and I think they scored almost ever time at both ends." Brown still holds two Rockets records - games played in a career by a goaltender and saves made.  

Huge shoes to fill: When Lorne Frey stepped down as the teams director of player personnel, who was going to assume the role? Long time scout Terry McFaul took over from one of the best. "He (Frey) is more right than he has been wrong. He never gives up on anybody". McFaul too has a long history with the organization, so taking over seemed like a no-brainer. "Being with the Rockets and the Hamilton family, they are second to none. You get treated so well. There is not a bad thing you can say about them." So what type of player catches the eye of McFaul? "If you are a good skater with good vision and good skills. You can teach people to play but you can't teach them to have good skill. You can't teach them to be outstanding skaters. You also want them to be good people". Lorne Frey doesn't totally ride off into the sunset. He assumes the role of senior adviser, a position that will allow him to spend more time with family back in Saskatchewan.