Malc
03-01-2011, 02:50 PM
By Larry Fisher
Bruce Hamilton likes the potential his Kelowna Rockets are showing heading into the WHL playoffs. He‘s even more excited about the franchise‘s future.
With a strong core – minus top blue-liner Tyson Barrie – that‘s expected to return next season and several sophomores and rookies making significant strides this season, Kelowna looks to be a lock to contend for the B.C. Division title in 2011-12. Add blue-chip prospects into the mix – including two promising defencemen who will be counted on to help fill Barrie‘s void – and Kelowna could challenge for another WHL championship sooner than later. There‘s even the possibility of Kelowna hosting the Memorial Cup tournament in 2013, and perhaps winning on home ice as the Rockets did in 2004.
There‘s certainly no shortage of optimism.
“There‘s a whole bunch of young guys that had to play a lot of minutes because of our injuries at times, and they‘re all stepping up,” said Hamilton, Kelowna‘s general manager.
The Rockets will graduate three players on age – forwards Geordie Wudrick, the team‘s leading goal-getter, Evan Bloodoff and defenceman Zak Stebner. And given just how well Barrie has played this season, the Colorado Avalanche prospect won‘t be back next season.
Aside from those four, Kelowna‘s roster might not change much.
Two California kids – goalie Adam Brown (free agent) and forward Mitchell Callahan (Detroit Red Wings) could return as over-agers.
Elsewhere, high-scoring forwards Shane McColgan (2011 draft eligible) and Brett Bulmer (Minnesota Wild) will be expected to lead the way offensively in their third WHL seasons.
Giving offensive assistance will be second-year players Zach Franko (2011 draft eligible) and Colton Sissons (2012 draft eligible).
Kelowna‘s forward group will also pack punch and protection for its skilled players, with Jesse Astles (2011 draft eligible) emerging as a power forward.
Further, Colton Heffley, Jason Siebert and Tyrell Goulbourne – all currently in their 16-year-old rookie campaigns – will complement Astles in size and strength.
“(Astles) really deserves credit,” Hamilton said of the 6-foot-1, 185-pound Coquitlam product. “He‘s now in a position where if anybody wants to take liberties with any of our guys, he‘s there to back it up.
“For the first time in a long time, we‘ve got a guy like this that went through our system. We‘ve developed him, we aren‘t trading for him, and I‘m really excited about that. And we‘re getting lots of interest in him right now (from NHL scouts).”
Replacing Barrie, the WHL‘s top defenceman in 2009-10 who played for Canada at this year‘s world juniors, won‘t be easy. But the Rockets have a penchant for producing high-end defencemen and that trend seems to be continuing. Thanks to assistant GM Lorne Frey‘s drafting ability and assistant coach Dan Lambert‘s developing tactics, Kelowna‘s blue-line is the envy of most clubs.
There will be plenty of competition on a back end that‘ll likely be anchored by physical, stay-at-home veterans in Kevin Smith, Colton Jobke and Mitchell Chapman. With 16-year-old Damon Severson and MacKenzie Johnston, 17, earning regular roles this season and top bantam-draft picks Jesse Lees of Calgary and Madison Bowey of Winnipeg poised to make the permanent jump next season, defence should be the least of Kelowna‘s concerns.
“We‘re going to have lots of defence next year,” Hamilton assured. “We‘ve got three or four young guys that are all going to get real good chances here. Obviously, Severson is turning himself into a pretty special player. Part of his challenge as a player right now is to get consistent and consistent in his work ethic. He‘s so skilled, but he‘s got some habits still from minor hockey – gradually he‘s getting out of them – where he‘s paced himself. But here, you don‘t pace yourself.”
Kelowna‘s coaching staff got another glimpse of that future on its recent Central Division road trip, with Lees suiting up for his second career WHL game in a 3-2 shootout win at Medicine Hat last Wednesday.
Bowey also debuted this season, skating in Kelowna‘s 3-2 shootout win at Lethbridge on Dec. 15.
Hamilton said the Rockets‘ plan is to get those two – picked ninth and 23rd overall, respectively, in the 2010 bantam draft – into more games down the stretch, while also auditioning forward Tyson Baillie, their third-round pick (53rd overall) from Fort Saskatchewan, Alta.
“If we can get one or two of those guys into some games to help take some minutes, that would help us a lot, too,” Hamilton said of the trio fresh off representing their provinces at the Canada Winter Games. “It will hinge on their schedules and I‘m really cognizant of the fact that these kids have just come back from six games in seven days in Halifax.
“The last thing I want to do is put them in a situation where their bodies are overtaxed. Their own teams are going to the playoffs, and that‘s the most important thing for us right now, is that they have success there. But when they‘re done, certainly, we‘ll be looking at bringing them here.”
Even in goal, the Rockets appear to be in good, capable hands. Brown is among the league‘s elite, while Hamilton said 17-year-old back-up Jordon Cooke of Leduc, Alta., is “a guy that‘s going to follow right in behind him and be special.”
With Kelowna‘s depth being tested by a rash of injuries, midget call-up Goulbourne of Edmonton has also made his presence felt.
“He‘s played real well and is certainly doing his best to try to get a chance to be on this club next year,” Hamilton said.
Hamilton also gave special praise for Sissons, a 17-year-old from North Vancouver who recently recorded his first WHL hat-trick and tallied 11 points in 10 February games through Friday‘s 1-0 win at Red Deer.
“He‘s been outstanding,” Hamilton said. “He‘s doing nothing but enhancing himself to be a high (NHL) draft pick next year.
“That line (with Sissons, Wudrick and Bloodoff) is as good a line as there is around right now.”
http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca/stories_local_sports.php?id=336754
Bruce Hamilton likes the potential his Kelowna Rockets are showing heading into the WHL playoffs. He‘s even more excited about the franchise‘s future.
With a strong core – minus top blue-liner Tyson Barrie – that‘s expected to return next season and several sophomores and rookies making significant strides this season, Kelowna looks to be a lock to contend for the B.C. Division title in 2011-12. Add blue-chip prospects into the mix – including two promising defencemen who will be counted on to help fill Barrie‘s void – and Kelowna could challenge for another WHL championship sooner than later. There‘s even the possibility of Kelowna hosting the Memorial Cup tournament in 2013, and perhaps winning on home ice as the Rockets did in 2004.
There‘s certainly no shortage of optimism.
“There‘s a whole bunch of young guys that had to play a lot of minutes because of our injuries at times, and they‘re all stepping up,” said Hamilton, Kelowna‘s general manager.
The Rockets will graduate three players on age – forwards Geordie Wudrick, the team‘s leading goal-getter, Evan Bloodoff and defenceman Zak Stebner. And given just how well Barrie has played this season, the Colorado Avalanche prospect won‘t be back next season.
Aside from those four, Kelowna‘s roster might not change much.
Two California kids – goalie Adam Brown (free agent) and forward Mitchell Callahan (Detroit Red Wings) could return as over-agers.
Elsewhere, high-scoring forwards Shane McColgan (2011 draft eligible) and Brett Bulmer (Minnesota Wild) will be expected to lead the way offensively in their third WHL seasons.
Giving offensive assistance will be second-year players Zach Franko (2011 draft eligible) and Colton Sissons (2012 draft eligible).
Kelowna‘s forward group will also pack punch and protection for its skilled players, with Jesse Astles (2011 draft eligible) emerging as a power forward.
Further, Colton Heffley, Jason Siebert and Tyrell Goulbourne – all currently in their 16-year-old rookie campaigns – will complement Astles in size and strength.
“(Astles) really deserves credit,” Hamilton said of the 6-foot-1, 185-pound Coquitlam product. “He‘s now in a position where if anybody wants to take liberties with any of our guys, he‘s there to back it up.
“For the first time in a long time, we‘ve got a guy like this that went through our system. We‘ve developed him, we aren‘t trading for him, and I‘m really excited about that. And we‘re getting lots of interest in him right now (from NHL scouts).”
Replacing Barrie, the WHL‘s top defenceman in 2009-10 who played for Canada at this year‘s world juniors, won‘t be easy. But the Rockets have a penchant for producing high-end defencemen and that trend seems to be continuing. Thanks to assistant GM Lorne Frey‘s drafting ability and assistant coach Dan Lambert‘s developing tactics, Kelowna‘s blue-line is the envy of most clubs.
There will be plenty of competition on a back end that‘ll likely be anchored by physical, stay-at-home veterans in Kevin Smith, Colton Jobke and Mitchell Chapman. With 16-year-old Damon Severson and MacKenzie Johnston, 17, earning regular roles this season and top bantam-draft picks Jesse Lees of Calgary and Madison Bowey of Winnipeg poised to make the permanent jump next season, defence should be the least of Kelowna‘s concerns.
“We‘re going to have lots of defence next year,” Hamilton assured. “We‘ve got three or four young guys that are all going to get real good chances here. Obviously, Severson is turning himself into a pretty special player. Part of his challenge as a player right now is to get consistent and consistent in his work ethic. He‘s so skilled, but he‘s got some habits still from minor hockey – gradually he‘s getting out of them – where he‘s paced himself. But here, you don‘t pace yourself.”
Kelowna‘s coaching staff got another glimpse of that future on its recent Central Division road trip, with Lees suiting up for his second career WHL game in a 3-2 shootout win at Medicine Hat last Wednesday.
Bowey also debuted this season, skating in Kelowna‘s 3-2 shootout win at Lethbridge on Dec. 15.
Hamilton said the Rockets‘ plan is to get those two – picked ninth and 23rd overall, respectively, in the 2010 bantam draft – into more games down the stretch, while also auditioning forward Tyson Baillie, their third-round pick (53rd overall) from Fort Saskatchewan, Alta.
“If we can get one or two of those guys into some games to help take some minutes, that would help us a lot, too,” Hamilton said of the trio fresh off representing their provinces at the Canada Winter Games. “It will hinge on their schedules and I‘m really cognizant of the fact that these kids have just come back from six games in seven days in Halifax.
“The last thing I want to do is put them in a situation where their bodies are overtaxed. Their own teams are going to the playoffs, and that‘s the most important thing for us right now, is that they have success there. But when they‘re done, certainly, we‘ll be looking at bringing them here.”
Even in goal, the Rockets appear to be in good, capable hands. Brown is among the league‘s elite, while Hamilton said 17-year-old back-up Jordon Cooke of Leduc, Alta., is “a guy that‘s going to follow right in behind him and be special.”
With Kelowna‘s depth being tested by a rash of injuries, midget call-up Goulbourne of Edmonton has also made his presence felt.
“He‘s played real well and is certainly doing his best to try to get a chance to be on this club next year,” Hamilton said.
Hamilton also gave special praise for Sissons, a 17-year-old from North Vancouver who recently recorded his first WHL hat-trick and tallied 11 points in 10 February games through Friday‘s 1-0 win at Red Deer.
“He‘s been outstanding,” Hamilton said. “He‘s doing nothing but enhancing himself to be a high (NHL) draft pick next year.
“That line (with Sissons, Wudrick and Bloodoff) is as good a line as there is around right now.”
http://www.kelownadailycourier.ca/stories_local_sports.php?id=336754