Kelowna Rockets

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Kelowna Rockets
CityKelowna, British Columbia
LeagueWestern Hockey League
ConferenceWestern
DivisionB.C.
Founded1991 (1991)
Home arenaProspera Place
ColoursTeal, Red, Copper, Black, White
         
Owner(s)Bruce Hamilton
General managerBruce Hamilton
Head coachKris Mallette
Websitechl.ca/whl-rockets
Franchise history
1991–1995Tacoma Rockets
1995–presentKelowna Rockets
Championships
Regular season titles3 (2002–03, 2003–04, 2013–14)
Playoff championshipsMemorial Cup
1 (2004)
Ed Chynoweth Cup
4 (2003, 2005, 2009, 2015)

The Kelowna Rockets are a Canadian major junior ice hockey team based in Kelowna, British Columbia. The team plays in the B.C Division of the Western Hockey League's Western Conference, playing their home games at Prospera Place. The Rockets are the most successful WHL team in the twenty-first century, winning three regular season titles and four playoff championships. The team has also played in the Memorial Cup finals three times, winning once, in 2004, when Kelowna hosted the tournament.

Franchise history[edit]

Foundations[edit]

The club was established in 1991 as the Tacoma Rockets, playing in Tacoma, Washington.[1] The team played four seasons in Tacoma under head coach Marcel Comeau, who was named the league and the Canadian Hockey League's coach-of-the-year for 1992–93, although the team won only one playoff round.[2] With the Tacoma Dome offering poor sight lines for hockey and attendance low, the team was sold and relocated to Kelowna in 1995.[1] In Kelowna, the team spent its first four seasons playing at Kelowna Memorial Arena while a new, purpose-built arena—Prospera Place—was being constructed; the team moved to the completed arena in 1999.[3]

Rise to prominence[edit]

Coached by Marc Habscheid and led on the ice by the likes of Jesse Schultz, Josh Gorges, Shea Weber, and goaltender Kelly Guard, the Rockets emerged as a contending team just after the turn of the century.[4] In 2002–03, the team won its first Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as regular season champions with a 51-win, 109-point season. In the playoffs, they defeated the Red Deer Rebels in the final to win their first President's Cup as league champions. At the 2003 Memorial Cup, Kelowna advanced to the semi-final, which they lost 2–1 to the Hull Olympiques. In 2004, the Rockets repeated as regular season champions before losing the Western Conference final to the expansion Everett Silvertips. However, Kelowna was able to participate in the 2004 Memorial Cup by virtue of hosting the tournament. At the tournament, the Rockets surrendered only three goals in four games en route to the championship, avenging the previous year's defeat to the Olympiques in the final, with Guard being named tournament MVP.[5][6]

In 2004–05, the Rockets finished second overall in the standings to the Kootenay Ice, who they defeated in the Western Conference final to advance to championship series.[7] There, the defeated the Brandon Wheat Kings for their second President's Cup in three seasons, and a berth in their third straight Memorial Cup tournament.[8] However, at the 2005 Memorial Cup, the Rockets dropped three straight games and were eliminated.

Continued success[edit]

The 2006–07 season saw the Rockets miss the playoffs for the first time in team history, but the team's struggles would be short-lived. The 2008–09 season saw the Rockets, led by Tyler Myers, Jamie Benn, and Tyson Barrie, advance to their third league final, where they defeated the Calgary Hitmen.[9] Benn led the 2009 Memorial Cup tournament in scoring, and the Rockets earned a spot in the final; however, they lost 4–1 to the Windsor Spitfires.[10]

From 2013–14 to 2016–17, the Rockets advanced to four consecutive Western Conference finals. They won once, in 2015, moving on to defeat the Wheat Kings in the final.[11] Led by tournament MVP Leon Draistaitl, the Rockets made a third finals appearance at the 2015 Memorial Cup, but lost 2–1 in overtime to the Oshawa Generals.[12]

The Rockets missed the playoffs for a second time in 2018–19. The team was set to host the Memorial Cup for the second time in 2020; however, the tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[13] In 2023–24, led by Tij Iginla, the Rockets won their first playoff series in seven years, defeating the Wenatchee Wild before losing in the second round to the Prince George Cougars.[14]

Team uniforms[edit]

Current Kelowna Rockets uniforms.

Since 2000, the Rockets' uniforms have featured a logo based on the legendary Okanagan Lake monster, Ogopogo. A third jersey design features the monster's head, taken from their shoulder patch design. The team's colours—carried over from their days in Tacoma—are teal, red, copper, black, and white.[3] In 2009, their jerseys were slightly modified to fit the Reebok Edge system.[15]

  • Early Rockets logos
  • Rendering of the Tacoma Rockets logo, c. 1991–1994.
    Rendering of the Tacoma Rockets logo, c. 1991–1994.
  • The original Kelowna logo, based on Tacoma's, c. 1995–2000.
    The original Kelowna logo, based on Tacoma's, c. 1995–2000.

Season-by-season record[edit]

J. T. Barnett played for the Rockets during the 2012–13 season.

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes

Season GP W L T OTL GF GA Points Finish Playoffs
1995–96 72 35 33 4 – 338 309 74 4th West Lost Western Conference quarterfinal
1996–97 72 35 35 2 – 298 314 72 4th West Lost Western Conference quarterfinal
1997–98 72 33 35 4 – 234 253 70 5th West Lost Western Conference quarterfinal
1998–99 72 25 42 5 – 224 282 55 6th West Lost Western Conference quarterfinal
1999–00 72 25 40 4 3 193 228 57 5th West Lost Western Conference quarterfinal
2000–01 72 37 23 7 5 259 240 86 1st West Lost Western Conference quarterfinal
2001–02 72 31 26 10 5 257 232 77 4th B.C. Lost Western Conference final
2002–03 72 51 14 6 1 311 164 109 1st B.C. Won Championship
2003–04 72 47 21 4 0 185 125 98 1st B.C. Lost Western Conference final; Won Memorial Cup
2004–05 72 45 13 12 2 215 139 104 2nd B.C. Won Championship
2005–06 72 46 22 1 3 243 188 96 2nd B.C. Lost Western Conference semifinal
2006–07 72 22 41 5 2 156 245 53 5th B.C. Out of playoffs
2007–08 72 38 26 2 6 248 215 84 2nd B.C. Lost Western Conference quarterfinal
2008–09 72 47 21 1 3 267 178 98 2nd B.C. Won Championship; lost Memorial Cup final
2009–10 72 35 31 2 4 224 225 76 2nd B.C. Lost Western Conference semifinal
2010–11 72 43 28 0 1 240 201 87 1st B.C. Lost Western Conference semifinal
2011–12 72 31 31 4 6 217 242 72 3rd B.C. Lost Western Conference quarterfinal
2012–13 72 52 16 3 1 309 178 108 1st B.C. Lost Western Conference semifinal
2013–14 72 57 11 0 4 310 182 118 1st B.C. Lost Western Conference final
2014–15 72 53 13 5 1 305 183 112 1st B.C. Won Championship; lost Memorial Cup final
2015–16 72 48 20 4 0 269 218 100 2nd B.C. Lost Western Conference final
2016–17 72 45 22 5 0 283 206 95 2nd B.C. Lost Western Conference final
2017–18 72 43 22 5 2 280 249 93 1st B.C. Lost Western Conference quarterfinal
2018–19 68 28 32 6 2 169 209 64 4th B.C. Lost tie-breaker game to Kamloops
Out of playoffs
2019–20 63 29 28 3 3 181 208 64 4th B.C. Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic
2020–21 16 10 5 1 0 58 53 21 3rd B.C. No playoffs held due to COVID-19 pandemic
2021–22 68 42 20 1 5 250 207 90 2nd B.C. Lost Western Conference quarterfinal
2022–23 68 27 37 4 0 210 256 58 4th B.C. Lost Western Conference quarterfinal
2023–24 68 33 30 4 1 250 258 71 2nd B.C. Lost Western Conference semifinal

Championship history[edit]

WHL Championship series[edit]

Memorial Cup finals[edit]

Players[edit]

Current roster[edit]

Updated March 30, 2024.[16]

# Nat Player Pos S/G Age Acquired Birthplace Drafted
9 Canada Brett Calhoon LW L 19 2023 Oliver, British Columbia Undrafted
19 Canada Michael Cicek C R 20 2023 Winnipeg, Manitoba Undrafted
2 Canada Landon Cowper D L 17 2023 Whitehorse, Yukon Eligible 2024
28 Canada Andrew Cristall (A) LW L 19 2020 Burnaby, British Columbia 2023, 40th Overall, WSH
6 United States Jackson Gillespie D R 17 2022 Keller, Texas Eligible 2025
29 Canada Hiroki Gojsic RW R 18 2023 Langley, British Columbia Undrafted
7 Canada Max Graham (A) LW L 19 2021 Whitehorse, Yukon Undrafted
16 Canada Ty Hurley LW L 19 2023 Sherwood Park, Alberta Undrafted
11 Canada Tij Iginla LW L 17 2023 Lake Country, British Columbia Eligible 2024
15 Canada Trae Johnson LW L 19 2023 Martensville, Saskatchewan Undrafted
5 Canada Carter Kowalyk D L 18 2024 St. Albert, Alberta Undrafted
30 Canada Jari Kykkanen G R 19 2019 Lloydminster, Alberta Undrafted
17 Canada Kayden Longley LW L 18 2021 Wainwright, Alberta Eligible 2024
23 Canada Ethan Mittelsteadt D L 18 2023 Victoria, British Columbia Eligible 2024
12 Canada Will Munro RW R 19 2020 Swan River, Manitoba Undrafted
18 Canada Ethan Neutens C R 19 2020 Cochrane, Alberta Undrafted
31 Canada Jake Pilon G L 17 2023 Calgary, Alberta Eligible 2025
4 Canada Caden Price D L 18 2020 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan 2023, 84th Overall, SEA
8 Czech Republic Marek Rocak D R 18 2022 Valasske Klobouky, Czech Republic Undrafted
27 Canada Kayden Sadhra-Kang D L 20 2023 Richmond, British Columbia Undrafted
10 United States Luke Schelter RW R 20 2023 Centennial, Colorado Undrafted
3 Canada Lachlan Staniforth D L 17 2022 Abbotsford, British Columbia Eligible 2025
22 Czech Republic Gabriel Szturc (C) C L 20 2021 Cesky Tesin, Czech Republic 2024, FA, TBL
24 Canada Dylan Wightman LW L 21 2019 Kelowna, British Columbia Undrafted

NHL alumni[edit]

List of Rockets' alumni to play in the National Hockey League (NHL):[17]

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ a b "WHL History". Western Hockey League. Archived from the original on July 31, 2023. Retrieved July 31, 2023.
  2. ^ "1972 NHL Amateur Draft – Marcel Comeau". Hockey Draft Central. Retrieved September 30, 2018.
  3. ^ a b Jordan, Kevin (October 15, 2022). "Kelowna Rockets". WHL Arena Guide. Archived from the original on June 7, 2023. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  4. ^ Vanstone, Rob (January 28, 2022). "Seeds for Habscheid's success were planted on the family farm". Regina Leader-Post. Archived from the original on January 29, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  5. ^ "Rockets remember 2004 Memorial Cup". Canadian Hockey League. February 28, 2020. Archived from the original on May 17, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  6. ^ Thom, Shelby (April 19, 2018). "Kelowna Rockets will bid to host 2020 Memorial Cup". Global News. Archived from the original on April 20, 2018. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  7. ^ Kerr, Grant (March 23, 2005). "Rookie head coach maintains the Rockets' glare". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on May 17, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  8. ^ Duhatschek, Eric (May 19, 2005). "Rent-a-goalie tradition goes way back". The Globe and Mail. Archived from the original on November 11, 2020. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  9. ^ "Kelowna Rockets win WHL title". CBC Sports. May 10, 2009. Archived from the original on March 8, 2016. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  10. ^ "Windsor Spitfires win Memorial Cup for 1st time". CBC Sports. May 24, 2009. Archived from the original on June 17, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  11. ^ "Kelowna Rockets sweep Brandon Wheat Kings to win WHL, advance to Memorial Cup". The Hockey News. Sports Illustrated. May 14, 2015. Archived from the original on May 27, 2022. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  12. ^ "Generals down Rockets in OT to win Memorial Cup". Sportsnet. Canadian Press. May 31, 2015. Archived from the original on June 2, 2015. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  13. ^ "2020 Memorial Cup, CHL playoffs cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic". Global News. The Canadian Press. March 23, 2020. Archived from the original on March 24, 2020. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  14. ^ Bednorz, Paige (April 20, 2024). "Cougars eliminate Rockets in Game 5". Prince George Daily News. Archived from the original on May 17, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024.
  15. ^ "CHL, WHL and Reebok Hockey launch new EDGE Uniform System – WHL Network".
  16. ^ WHL Network, Western Hockey League, retrieved March 30, 2024
  17. ^ "Kelowna Rockets who have played in the NHL". Kelowna Rockets. Archived from the original on February 3, 2024. Retrieved May 17, 2024.

External links[edit]

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