The Kelowna Rockets害羞草研究所� season ended Wednesday with a 5-1 loss in a tiebreaker game against the Kamloops Blazers.
If Kelowna had won, they would have advanced to the WHL playoffs. But the Rockets fell short in what was a tough overall season.
害羞草研究所淵ou never go into the year not planning to get into the playoffs,害羞草研究所� said Rockets general manager Bruce Hamilton.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 disappointing for our fan base.害羞草研究所�
But with the off-season now in full swing for the Rockets, management害羞草研究所檚 attention will turn to the next season, when the Rockets will host the Memorial Cup for the first time since 2004.
The tournament includes the top three teams of the Canadian Hockey League and the host team. So the Rockets will look to compete against the league害羞草研究所檚 best in 2020.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e switching into Memorial Cup mode and building our team for next year,害羞草研究所� said Hamilton. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檒l do what we need to do to upgrade our team, have our high-end talent back and go into the season (ready).害羞草研究所�
The returning talent includes a majority of the Rockets害羞草研究所� 2018/19 core. Forwards Kyle Topping, Leif Mattson, and Nolan Foote led the Rockets in points this season, and are expected to return. Defenceman Kaedan Korczak and Lassi Thomson, both coming off great years for the Rockets, are also slated to return to the line-up next season. Seventeen-year-old goalie Roman Basran, though shaky at the end, was solid for most of the season, and will also return with a full year of experience under his belt.
The Rockets害羞草研究所� core had ups and downs throughout the season, and some players will be drafted at the 2019 NHL Draft in Vancouver.
Hamilton knows the team will need to come back with improvements.
害羞草研究所淎ll of them have to work on fitness and certain parts of their games. They害羞草研究所檒l get bigger and stronger,害羞草研究所� he said.
害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檙e all young men turning into men.害羞草研究所�
Kelowna drew the fifth overall draft pick in the 2019 WHL bantam draft, their highest pick since 2007, and will use it to upgrade the team.
Fifteen-year-old Trevor Wong, the Rockets 2018 draft pick, rounds out the younger players looking to make an impact on next season害羞草研究所檚 roster alongside Alex Swetlikoff, Mark Liwiski, Michael Farren, and six other rookie prospects.
害羞草研究所淲ong will be someone the fans will enjoy watching play as he progresses, and he害羞草研究所檒l get every opportunity,害羞草研究所� said Hamilton.
With rookies and draft picks coming onto the roster, the Rockets will lose their three overage players. Dalton Gally, Schael Higson and Matt Barberis, all defenceman are moving on to pursue hockey on the East Coast or at university.
Gally, who played 59 games for the Rockets after being traded from Medicine Hat at the beginning of the season, said he enjoyed every minute with Kelowna.
害羞草研究所淚 think overall it was really positive,害羞草研究所� he said. 害羞草研究所淚 came in and felt they really wanted me, and I learned a lot from coach (Adam) Foote. It was a great time, and (Kelowna) will always be in the back of my mind and in my heart for sure.害羞草研究所�
Hamilton said the overage players carry teams, and it was one of the reasons the Rockets struggled at the beginning of the season, with no veterans like Gally stepping in.
害羞草研究所淎dversity plagued us all-year round,害羞草研究所� said Gally. 害羞草研究所淏ut I felt we got better throughout the season, especially the young guys. They learned a lot, as I did.害羞草研究所�
Rockets fans may now have to wait through the summer until the start of next season, but with new players coming in, a year of experience under the Rockets害羞草研究所� core害羞草研究所檚 skates and the team ready to compete in 2020害羞草研究所檚 Memorial Cup, they can prepare for a pivotal upcoming season.
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