Prior to this season, neither nor had played a single minute of major junior hockey.

Based on the first couple of months of the 2017-18 campaign, the Kelowna Rockets害羞草研究所� goaltending future looks to be in capable hands.

In early October, Porter, 17, stepped into the club害羞草研究所檚 No. 1 role and hasn害羞草研究所檛 looked back since.

The Bonners Ferry, Idaho native boasts a 10-4-0 record and has been arguably his team害羞草研究所檚 best player in a handful of games already this season.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e been thrilled with James Porter, he害羞草研究所檚 taken the ball and really run with it,害羞草研究所� Rockets害羞草研究所� president and GM Bruce Hamilton said of Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 seventh-round pick in the 2015 bantam draft.

害羞草研究所淥ur concern is we don害羞草研究所檛 want to wear him down, there害羞草研究所檚 not a lot to him (5-foot-11, 160 pounds) right now, so we have to take care of him and get him some games off when he needs them.害羞草研究所�

Basran, 16, a third-round bantam pick last year, made his Rockets害羞草研究所� debut Saturday, Nov. 18 in Vancouver, stopping 16 of 18 shots in relief of Porter.

Just a week later, Basran made an unforgettable first WHL start, stopping 38 shots for the over the Medicine Hat Tigers.

Contrary to how most people might expect a 16-year-old rookie to react in his first start in front of more than 5,200 fans, Basran said he felt calm and ready for the task at hand.

害羞草研究所淚 wasn害羞草研究所檛 that nervous because I害羞草研究所檇 been thinking of that day and preparing for it basically every day for the last two years,害羞草研究所� said Basran, who was called up from the BCMML害羞草研究所檚 Okanagan Rockets after an injury to Brodan Salmond. 害羞草研究所淚 just come to the rink with a positive attitude, try and treat every game the same and keep it simple.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 an honour and great experience to be here,害羞草研究所� he added, 害羞草研究所淚 just want to make the most if it.害羞草研究所�

Roman "The Mayor" Basran has a night to remember as the Rockets shutout the Tigers 4-0. Story: 馃殌馃悏

害羞草研究所� Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets)

Hamilton said Basran has all the tools to develop into a solid WHL netminder.

害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 a prototypical newer goalie, a big guy and very athletic,害羞草研究所� Hamilton said of Basran, the 6-foot-1, 170-pound Richmond product. 害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 a confident young guy with a bit of swagger, so we害羞草研究所檙e looking forward to see him develop further.害羞草研究所�

However long Basran stays with the WHL club this season, Hamilton said the Rockets will be mindful not to heap too much responsibility on his shoulders this early in his career.

At the start of the 2001-02 campaign, the Kelowna GM said the Rockets exercised poor judgment with their No. 1 draft pick, goalie Josh Lepp害羞草研究所攑laying him too much, too soon害羞草研究所攁nd are determined not to make the same mistake with Basran.

害羞草研究所淲e have to be careful, he害羞草研究所檚 only 16 and we害羞草研究所檙e not going to heap too much on him and put him a position to fail,害羞草研究所� said Hamilton. 害羞草研究所淯nfortunately with Josh (Lepp), he was 16, we didn害羞草研究所檛 do a very good job with him. We learned an important lesson from that.害羞草研究所�

With the injured Salmond not due to return until after Christmas, Hamilton said Basran will quite likely stay with the club until then.

Just how his time is divided between the WHL and the major midget level over the next several months remains to be seen.

害羞草研究所淚t could be that we shuttle him back and forth between our team and the midgets, we have to make sure he害羞草研究所檚 still playing lots,害羞草研究所� Hamilton said.

害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檚 no doubt that our (goaltending) future is these two guys, Porter and Basran, and we have to make sure we manage them the right way,害羞草研究所� he added.

Meanwhile, Salmond, 19, has been rehabbing from a knee injury and hasn害羞草研究所檛 seen action since Nov. 4.

On Friday, the Rockets (14-8-2-1) will head to Spokane to take on Dan Lambert害羞草研究所檚 Chiefs for the second time this season.

Kelowna is back home Saturday for its lone meeting of the season with the Kootenay Ice. Face off at Prospera Place is 7:05 p.m.

The Rockets begin their traditional pre-Christmas tour of the Prairies on Friday, Dec. 8 in Regina.

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whenderson@kelownacapnews.com
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