The Kelowna Rockets were represented well at the 2023 NHL Entry Draft in Nashville last week.
Early in the second round on Thursday morning (June 29), the Washington Capitals picked the Rockets current super star Andrew Cristall with the 40th overall selection.
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害羞草研究所 Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets)
害羞草研究所淚t feels unbelievable to finally have my name called,害羞草研究所 said Cristall to the media after getting drafted. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 really special and I couldn害羞草研究所檛 be happier with Washington.害羞草研究所
In 115 career WHL games, all with the Rockets, the 18-year old has put up 164 points (67 goals, 97 assists).
But Cristall wasn害羞草研究所檛 the only Rocket selected as in the third round of the draft, the Seattle Kraken selected Rockets defenceman Caden Price 84th overall.
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害羞草研究所 Seattle Kraken (@SeattleKraken)
With the 84th overall pick, the select Caden Price!
害羞草研究所淲hen I heard my name called, there was a lot of weight lifted off my shoulders,害羞草研究所 said Price. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a new franchise in the league and I害羞草研究所檓 super excited to get started.害羞草研究所
The 17-year old has 61 points (seven goals, 54 assists) to his name in 112 WHL games.
Both Cristall and Price went right from Nashville to their respective new NHL cities for development camp. All NHL franchises are holding development camps for their prospects this week and many other current and former Kelowna Rockets also have been invited to NHL development camps.
On top of Cristall and Price, there are three other current Rockets that accepted invites to camps:
害羞草研究所 Forward Gabriel Sztruc - Tampa Bay Lightning;
害羞草研究所 Defenceman Jackson DeSouza - Detroit Red Wings;
害羞草研究所 Goaltender Kari Kykkanen - Calgary Flames.
Former Rockets attending camps are:
害羞草研究所 Forward Colton Dach - Chicago Blackhawks (drafted by team in 2021);
害羞草研究所 Goaltender Talyn Boyko - New York Rangers (drafted by team in 2021);
害羞草研究所 Forward Pavel Novak - Minnesota Wild (draft by team in 2020);
害羞草研究所 Forward Carson Golder - Winnipeg Jets (invited);
害羞草研究所 Forward Adam Kydd - Calgary Flames (invited);
害羞草研究所 Forward Trevor Wong - Dallas Stars (invited);
害羞草研究所 Forward Alex Swetlikoff - Vegas Golden Knights (invited).
Additionally, the Rockets newest player, Jakub Stancl, is attending the St. Louis Blues development camp after he was drafted by the team in the fourth round of the NHL Draft. He was also drafted by the Rockets on Wednesday, July 5 in the CHL Import Draft.