A swift and unexpected four-game exit from last spring害羞草研究所檚 playoffs made for a long offseason for the Kelowna Rockets.

On the eve of the club害羞草研究所檚 training camp at Prospera Place, GM Bruce Hamilton expects Rockets害羞草研究所� coaches and players alike to get to work on making amends for an unsatisfying conclusion to the 2017-18 campaign.

害羞草研究所淕oing out four straight last year was a real disappointment after winning our division,害羞草研究所� said Hamilton. 害羞草研究所淔or the players, there害羞草研究所檚 certainly some pressure on them to be better but there害羞草研究所檚 pressure on the coaches to be better, too. They害羞草研究所檒l need to get this team prepared, ready to go and get out of the gate fast.害羞草研究所�

Between 55 and 60 players are expected to be on the ice for the start of main training camp this weekend.

With head coach Jason Smith at the helm for his third season, the Rockets will be looking to overcome the departures of a handful of key players, including forwards Dillon Dube and Kole Lind and defencemen Cal Foote, Gordie Ballhorn and James Hilsedager.

Up front, Hamilton said the Rockets will be relying on a strong group of 19-year-old forwards, including Kyle Topping, Erik Gardiner, Leif Mattson, Conner Bruggen-Cate and Jack Cowell.

害羞草研究所淲e have five real good 19-year-olds, they害羞草研究所檙e going to have sort it out, who害羞草研究所檚 going to be on the first line and where they fit in,害羞草研究所� Hamilton. 害羞草研究所淚 think we害羞草研究所檙e going to have some interesting battles with guys trying to position themselves on the second, third and fourth lines.害羞草研究所�

Hamilton said the club害羞草研究所檚 strength this season could well be in goal as James Porter looks to build on a solid rookie campaign. Roman Basran, whose 2017-18 season was cut short by a knee injury, is expected to challenge for his share of playing time between the pipes.

Rockets Rookie Camp: Day One is in the books. Details: 馃殌馃悏

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

害羞草研究所淧orter害羞草研究所檚 had a real good summer and once we get Basran back healthy, we害羞草研究所漧l have a real solid pair back there,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淭hat害羞草研究所檚 one of the most important things you need going into a season.害羞草研究所�

If there害羞草研究所檚 any area of concern, Hamilton points to the defensive corps害羞草研究所攚ithout Foote, Hilsendager and Ballhorn害羞草研究所攂ut even then, there害羞草研究所檚 reason for optimism.

害羞草研究所�(Kaedan) Korczak who was at the under-18s, he害羞草研究所檚 made tremendous strides, (Libor) Zabransky will have to step up for us, and our Finnish player (Lassi Thomson) is an exceptional, so we害羞草研究所檝e got some guys there that害羞草研究所檒l step in and play,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所�

害羞草研究所淭he guys who were six, seven, eight on defense last year are going to have to work real hard to get a spot here, which is always real positive.害羞草研究所�

The Rockets kick off their exhibition season Friday, Aug. 31 at home to the Victoria Royals.

Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 2018-19 WHL regular season opens with a home-and-home set against the rival Kamloops Blazers害羞草研究所擣riday in Sept. 21 in Kamloops, then again Saturday, Sept. 22 at Prospera Place.

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