Optimism is sky high for all 22 teams in the Western Hockey League heading into the 2022-2023 season.
Include the Kelowna Rockets in that group, who must wait an additional day before dropping the puck for real.
Everyone is undefeated. It is a level playing field to capture the league title and no one has yet to make a mistake.
“Championships and playoff series are not won in late September or October”, Head Coach Kris Mallette told RocketFAN in advance of the team’s home opener Saturday night against the visiting Portland Winterhawks.
“I will stress the process with our group”, Mallette continued. “The most exciting thing for me is, if we have deficiencies, how do we change them”.
Mallette made life tough for himself after an abundance of success a year ago. The Rockets earned a shocking 90 points, with 42 victories before he was named the BC Division coach of the year.
The bar is set high this season. Can the team be among the league elite after taking everyone by surprise?
“If there was anything I learned last year from our group and our style of play, it wasn’t easy”, Mallette admitted. “We were always trying to push it. We were trying to play physical.”
Mallette says the 2022-2023 team will look eerily similar. Hey, if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it.
“We have a lot of workers. We can be aggressive. It takes a (physical) toll. I wanted to play a certain way and the players did a hell of a job”, Mallette continued. “We may need to communicate better with them in regard to practice time and being away from the rink to make sure we are fresh to play every night”.
Captain Obvious will tell you the strength of the team is in goal. A weak spot at this time last fall, Jari Kykkanen is back to challenge veteran netminder Tayln Boyko for the number one spot. Last season, the Rockets allowed the 8th fewest goals against in the entire WHL.
“I thought we were a little loose last year defensively”, Mallette responded when asked about his team play in their own zone. “We relied heavily on Boyko and Kykkanen. I really want to take care of it (own zone), but not be boring. For us, it is defending first and let everything else take care of itself.”
Generating goals will likely be by committee. Colton Dach, who will start the season at the training camp of the Chicago Blackhawks, should be among the Western Conference’s most dangerous shooters. Sophomore forward Andrew Cristall, who is already receiving massive attention from NHL scouts with the season yet to begin, could turn the red light on 30 times after scoring 28 goals as a wide-eyed rookie.
“We have a real good group with a lot of returning guys”, Cristall told RocketFAN. “We’ve got guys that are ready to step up and play bigger roles. We are looking for more than 40 wins this season.”
Don’t forget about d-man Caden Price either. On the cusp of a breakout season, like Cristall, the two have scouts salivating after helping Canada win gold at the U-18’s this summer.
Can the team match or exceed 90 points this season? It may be attainable now that the 68-game regular season allows out of conference play, which enables stronger teams to face weaker opponents in the Eastern Conference rather than a steady diet of power-houses in the Western Conference.
“There are some guys we are going to rely heavily on. If you know me, if you come to play, you are going to get opportunities. If lines three and four are going, they are going to play”, Mallette said bluntly.
Twenty-year-olds Adam Kydd and Jake Poole will need to step up. Why can’t they considering Tyson Feist and Jake Lee, two graduated players, had career seasons with 16 and 15 goals respectively.
“I didn’t score as much as I would have like last year,” Kydd admitted. “I hope I can score upwards of 25 goals or more. I love our team with older guys and some younger who had good summers.”
Opening night at Prospera Place will be special. The fans will be welcomed back with open arms. At this time last year, the home opener was met by health restrictions which allowed only 50 per cent capacity.
Mallette has some advice for his players when they are introduced by name, with a spotlight on them, as they skate through the inflatable Ogopogo towards the blueline with the crowd cheering them on during the pre-game festivities.
“Don’t toe pick”, he said with a chuckle. “The entrance is the big thing. Are you going to raise your stick? Are you too cool for school? It will be a lot of fun.”
Clearly, the Kelowna Rockets are ready for a new season.
RocketFan is ready.
Are you?
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