Rockets acquired Southam

Rodney Southam

The Kelowna Rockets have added depth to their forward position with the acquisition of 18 year-old Rodney Southam from the Tri City Americans for a 5th round bantam pick in 2016.
Southam is no stranger to one member of the Rockets. Southam was a teammate of Rourke Chartier, who won a Saskatchewan Major Midget League title together back in the 2011-2012 season with the Saskatoon Contacts.
Southam, from Saskatoon, has played 63 regular season games with the Americans with only 7 goals and 14 points.
Southam does have 2+3=5 in 10 games this season though.
Southam was originally selected in the WHL bantam draft by the Red Deer Rebels in the 6th round in 2011.
This is a good move for the Rocket for two reasons. It provides the team with depth. With the trade of 20 year-old Carter Rigby to Swift Current, while the team acquired a bantam pick, they really needed a body in return. Now they have one with the Southam deal. The 18 year-old can also play a secondary role and chip in with a goal here and there. He can also fight with two tilts this season and five the year prior. In other words, he plays with an edge.  
When it comes to the Rockets tremendous start, there has been some heavy lifting by a small group of players and tremendous goaltending from Jackson Whistle. Southam can only move up the depth chart and push some players who aren`t preforming to the sideline as a healthy scratch.