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| 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.
