Photo credit: Kelowna Rockets

By Regan Bartel

16-year-old making a name for himself

Abou who?

Sep 10, 2022 | 11:17 AM

Was it a case of eyes wide open or eyes wide shut?

It must have been daunting last night as two raw rookies with the Kelowna Rockets began the journey of playing in the Western Hockey League.

With no early indication that the team would ice a 16-year-old this season, the team opened the pre-season last night in Kamloops with two in that age category attempting to earn a roster spot.

One of the most intriguing is wet behind the ears d-man Ismail Abougouche (Abb-a-gosh).

If he indeed cracks the team, which is no guarantee, his name bar will cause equipment manager Tim Webster headaches. Webster will have to spell it correctly while getting all of the letters in a limited amount of space.

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Abogouche is from Lac La Biche, Alberta, a small community north of Edmonton. It is far north. If you draw a straight line to the west, it is higher than Prince George, which is the most northerly outpost on the 22-team circuit.

If this 6-foot-2 blueliner can make the squad, it would be an amazing feat. You don’t see many 12th round WHL Prospect Draft picks ever wearing Kelowna Rockets colours. I can’t name one.

The only late round pick of prominence was a player by the name of Damon Severson. Remember him? A 9th round selection in 2009 in what was then the WHL Bantam Draft, the now 28-year-old has played 566 games in the NHL with the New Jersey Devils. How good was that pick when he was passed over 191 times before Rockets’ scouts plucked him off the board.

I am not suggesting Abougouche is the next Damon Severson. What I am pointing out is the rarity of having a player chosen so late in the draft, yet on the cusp of cracking the team.

The other 16-year-old turning a few heads is forward Logan Peskett. Born in 2006, (which is when I had ample hair on my head), the North Vancouver product made his pre-season debut last night against the Blazers as well.

Peskett is the baby on the team. He is still 15, with his birthday arriving next week (September 14th).

A 6th round selection by director of player personnel Terry McFaul, Peskett is trying to make life difficult for management and coaches to cut him.

It will be interesting to watch them tonight at Prospera Place, if they indeed get a second opportunity when the Rockets host the Kamloops Blazers in a rematch.

Both are likely naïve.

Sometimes that naivety is a blessing not a curse, with neither feeling an ounce of pressure.

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