Investigators says the Legacy Apartment fire in Rutland was caused by a barbecue.

Assistant Fire Chief Lou Wilde (pictured) says the fire started on the second floor and made its way to the roof of the 52 unit complex.

"The fire originated on the second floor deck. The damage that is up there leads us to believe it was either human error or part of the barbecue that was faulty."     

Wilde says the fire quickly made its way to the roof.

"There is very little damage in the hallways on the second and third floor. The walls are still white. That leads us to conclude that the fire went up the outside of the building and burned the roof off it."

Fire Chief Jeff Carlisle says their is a silver lining a day after the blaze.

"I believe one or two cats are missing but all things considered, and I get the loss that people have on the fourth floor and the other suites, but no one is injured and ev

Sixty-nine residents from 39 units have registered with Emergency Support Services.

The registration centre is located at the Salvation Army on Sutherland Avenue.

eryone is alive." 

Kelowna ice maker earmarking Vancouver's outdoor game

Kelowna resident Wayne Pansegrau (pictured right) will have a front row seat to all the action when the Vancouver Canucks host the Ottawa Senators next March at BC Place Stadium.

Pansegrau has been asked to be a member of the ice making crew after holding a similar post at the Heritage Classic in Calgary in 2011.


"Working here with the Kelowna Rockets is a pretty big stage. We have had a lot of big events here like the World Juniors and the Memorial Cup but working a few games in the NHL would be spectacular."

Pansegrau was also a Zamboni driver at the 2010 Winter Olympics in Vancouver.

Bowey/Goulbourne/Wheaton and Bell take step on NHL stage

For the fourth time in the Kelowna/Tacoma Rockets 22 year history, the Washington Capitals have selected a player from the WHL franchise.
Madison Bowey was taken in the second round, 53rd overall, by the Capitals on Sunday. The Capitals picked up Rockets alumnus Mark Olafson in 2003, Nolan Yonkman in 1999 and John Varga in 1992. 
It was a given Bowey would be selected in the first two rounds but the same couldn't be said for teammate Tyrell Goulbourne.
The Philadelphia Flyers picked the Edmonton resident in the third round. While some hockey people will be surprised at the pick, remember  Goulbourne is not a one trick pony. Sure he has had success fighting, with the Joe Mahon tilt in February becoming a huge hit on YouTube. The 18 year-old was also voted as the Western Conference's toughest player in the Tri City Herald Best of the West poll this past season. But aside from that, Goulbourne has elite speed and is arguably the fastest skater on the Rockets roster. His best work is on the penalty killing unit. Also don't forget, Goulbourne scored a career high 14 goals this past season and tied for the team lead in game winning goals with six.
If you think he is all about fighting you are dead wrong.
In the 5th round, the Detroit Redwings picked Rockets d-man Mitch Wheaton. I think the only thing that hurt Wheaton from not being selected higher in the draft was the fact he played in just 39 regular season games as a rookie. With a larger viewing with more games under his belt, in my opinion Wheaton would have had a better shot of being selected in the third round.
It was nice to see Myles Bell recognized at the NHL draft when the New Jersey Devils called his name in the 6th round. Bell is as strong as an ox, and sorry Brandon's Ryan Pulock, possesses the hardest shot in the WHL. Many outsiders predict Bell will be playing pro this season, but I am not so sure he doesn't need another season to fully understand the position of forward. Is the 20 year-old (Bell will turn 20 in August) not better fit for another year of junior hockey on what many anticipate will be a Rockets team that should challenge for a WHL title?
It will all come down to how well the Calgary resident preforms at Devils training camp in September. A solid camp and he has a chance to stick in the AHL. A few struggles and another season in Kelowna would only help his future development not hinder it.

Big weekend for Bowey/Bell/Wheaton

Madison Bowey will be a high pick in Sunday's NHL draft.
But how high?
The Kelowna Rockets d-man is projected to be a late first round selection or may fall into the early stages of the second round. TSN's Bob McKenzie has Bowey projected to go 36th overall, which leaves him six spots shy of first round status. Only five Kelowna Rockets have been taken in the opening round of the draft. Kyle McLaren (Boston - 1995), Scott Hannan (San Jose - 1997), Scott Parker (Colorado -  1998), Luke Schenn (Toronto - 2008), Tyler Myers (Buffalo - 2008) all share that honour.

If Bowey is indeed taken 36th overall and the order of selection remains the same as it does today, the 18 year-old Winnipeg resident will be a member of the Montreal Canadiens. Bowey will join Rockets alumnus Josh Gorges and Travis Moen as members of Le Bleu-Blanc-Rouge. If Bowey slips into the second round, he will join a solid group of former alumni like Shea Weber (2nd round - Nashville), Colton Sissons ( 2nd round - Nashville), Brett Bulmer (2nd round Minnesota), Blake Comeau (2nd round Islanders), Keil McLeod (2nd round Columbus), Nolan Yonkman (2nd round Washington) and Tuomas Gronman (2nd round Quebec Nordiques).
While Bowey will undoubtedly be taken in the first 40 picks, the real question is when will teammates Mitch Wheaton and Myles Bell hear their names called at the podium?
Wheaton's size alone has many scouts wanting to get their hands on the Sherwood Park, Alberta product. Is the third round realistic for a rookie defenceman who had a portion of his season shortened because of shoulder problems? Tyson Barrie (Colorado - 2009) was the last Rockets player taken in the third round and he is earning an NHL paycheck.
The most intriguing player to watch will be Myles Bell. Undrafted at 18, Bell led the Rockets in scoring despite being moving from defense to forward. The 19 year-old made the transition look easy and scouts can't overlook his pro-like shot and 38 goal output.
If all three are drafted on Sunday, it will mark the first time since 2009 that three players from the Rockets organization have been taken in the NHL draft. That year Tyson Barrie (Colorado), Evan Bloodoff (Phoenix) and Mitch Callahan (Detroit) had the priviledge of being selected by one of the 30 NHL teams.
Nothing is guaranteed on Sunday. What is safe to say is the draft will be must viewing if you are a Kelowna Rockets fan.

Inductees into Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame

   

Former BC Lions receiver Brock Aynsley is one of four new inductees into the Central Okanagan Sports Hall of Fame.

The Kelowna resident was a multi sport athlete, excelling in track and field and football.

"I was no Bo Jackson but I definitely played a number of sports.  I wish I could have continued. In those days you could because of the professionalism. I thoroughly loved track but I had to quit track when I went to professional football."

Aynsley won a Grey Cup with the Montreal Alouettes in 1977.

Inducted into the Team Category is the 1988 Julie Sutton curling team.  The rink won the 1988 World Junior Women's Curling Championships in France.

Third Julie Wood reflects on the strengths of the team.

"As you the years have gone on and we have curled with different people, we now realize how magical it was and how we were suited to every position and how strong we were as a team".

Hockey player Blair Chapman, who was drafted second overall in the 1976 NHL Draft by Pittsburgh and former Kelowna Buckaroos Owner/GM and Coach Wayne North will officially be inducted during a ceremony in November.

Callahan can taste Calder Cup title

Mitchell Callahan knows what it takes to win a championship.

The 21 year-old captured a WHL title with the Kelowna Rockets in 2009 and now finds himself in a good position to capture an American Hockey League crown.

Callahan and the Grand Rapid's Griffins lead the Syracuse Crunch two games to none in the best of seven league final.

"At the beginning of the year we thought we could go pretty far. When the lockout ended we lost a few guys but that made us a harder working team. Our team really became close together so we though we could go pretty far."

Callahan compares his Grand Rapids team to the Kelowna Rockets WHL championships team from 2009.

"We have great leaders and older guys. In 2009 when I was 17 in Kelowna, we had older guys like Jamie Benn. We have a real close group. When we beat Vancouver in the Western Conference final we knew that everyone was doing it for each other".

The Griffins have faced adversity both on and off the ice. In the AHL semi final against the Oklahoma Barons a game was postponed after a tornado struck the American city.  

"When the guys were halfway dressed, the coach said the game was delayed because of a tornado. We all went down to the parking lot and stayed there until the storm passed. It was pretty scary. I've heard it is the largest tornado in North American history which is pretty tough to believe".

Callahan and the Griffins have a 2-0 lead in the AHL final with the next three games on home ice.

"Our coach always talks about never being to high or to low. By the looks of it we have the advantage even though we are up two games to nothing. We can't take that for granted and we can't let down at all." 

Callahan is enjoying playoff success playing on a line with former WHL players Tristan Grant and Landon Ferraro.

McLean ain't done yet!

Despite turning 35 in August, don't think for a minute that Brett McLean is ready to retire.

McLean told me he will return for another season in the Swiss elite league next season.

It will mark McLean's third season in Europe after playing 385 games in the NHL.

McLean played four seasons with the Kelowna Rockets including his rookie campaign with the Tacoma Rockets in 1994.

10 years since Rockets first MC appearance

It's been 10 years!
Ten years since the Kelowna Rockets made their first ever appearance at the Memorial Cup.
The venue was the Colisée Pepsi in Quebec City, the site of the 2003 event. It  featured the WHL champion Kelowna Rockets, the Quebec Remparts, Kitchener Rangers and Hull Olympiques.
The Rockets represented the WHL after a six game series win over the Red Deer Rebels. 
That season the WHL champions were led by 20 year-old Jesse Schultz (pictured right), a 53 goal man during the regular season who was an impact player in the post season (12 goals - 16 assists = 28 points in 19 playoff games) where he was named MVP.
The Rockets roster also included Josh Gorges, Shea Weber, Cam Paddock, Mike Card, Duncan Keith and Blake Comeau.
That's right, seven players (Schultz included) from the 2003 team would see time in the NHL. They were that good.    
The eventual Memorial Cup champions that season, the Kitchener Rangers, had the likes of NHL'er Mike Richards, Derek Roy and Steve Eminger.
The Rockets would win just one game at the Cup, a 3-2 victory over the host Quebec Remparts. Despite the 1 and 2 record in the round-robin, the Rockets advanced to the semi finals where they would lose 2-1 to the Hull Olympiques. Kitchener would beat Hull 6-3 a day later in the championship game.   
As disappointed as the Rockets were to leave the 2003 Memorial Cup in Quebec City empty handed, who would have thought that only a season later they would win the title in front of the hometown crowd before making a third consecutive appearance, this time in London Ontario, in 2005.
The stop in Quebec City was a sign of things to come.

Richdale wins

Kelowna golfer Samantha Richdale is the winner of a CN Canadian Women's Tour event in Tsawwassen.

Richdale shot a final round 73 today, winning the event by four strokes.

The win is worth 10 thousand dollars and an exemption into the 2013 CN Canadian Women’s Open in August.

When UBC Okanagan opened its doors to students in 2005, one of their goals was  to compete against the best in Canadian university sports.

Almost eight years later, UBC Okanagan has reached its goal.

The university was granted full membership status in Canada West athletics allowing them to compete in basketball, volleyball and now soccer in 2014.

UBC Okanagan Athletic Director Rob Johnson says the university can offer elite athletes more than just a strong learning experience.

"Now we can go to those student athletes and say, this is a realistic option for you in men's and women's soccer, volleyball and basketball. That is attractive to a lot of people".   

Johnson says UBC Okanagan is also interested in competing in Canada West football down the road.

Hamilton's season is over

The hockey season is over for Kelowna resident Curtis Hamilton.

The 21 year-old underwent season ending 'knee' surgery today.

The second round pick of the Edmonton Oilers in 2010 spent this season with the  American Hockey League's Oklahama City Barons.

Next season is Hamilton's final year of an entry level contract.

A special day for an Okanagan football player.

Vernon resident Matt Walker was drafted by the BC Lions.

The 21 year-old will compete for a spot on the Lions as a defensive back, a position he started playing after a brief stint two years ago with the Okanagan Sun.

'There starting safety got injured so it was a predicament that they said hey, do you want to try this for a practice or two just to help out.  I tried it out and haven't looked back ever since."   

Walker attended the Lions spring training camp last month and did enough to convince the Lions to draft him.

Last season, Walker, played with the UBC Thunderbirds. 

Adam Foote's son now Kelowna Rockets property

Lyon Messier, Tyson Barrie, Adam Brown and J.T Barnett. You can now add to that list Cal Foote. Who is Cal Foote?
The 14 year-old was selected by the Kelowna Rockets in the second round of Thursday's WHL bantam draft.
What does the Denver, Colorado resident have in common with the players mentioned above? All five have prominent fathers that have connections to the NHL and four of the five at one time wore Kelowna Rockets colours.
Lyon Messier is Mark Messier's son. Lyon spent a small amount of time with the Rockets during the 2007-2008 season. Tyson Barrie is the son of former Tampa Bay Lightning owner Len Barrie. Adam Brown is the son of Vancouver Canucks assistant coach Newell Brown. J.T Barnett is the son of former Wayne Gretzky agent Mike Barnett. Cal Foote is the son of former NHL d-man Adam Foote. Foote (pictured) is apparently interested in playing in the WHL rather than going the NCAA route, which many, but not all American born players tend to do. If Cal (Callun is his whole name) is even half the player his dad (Adam) was, the Rockets made a nice pick in the second round.