Photo credit: Kelowna Rockets Instagram

By Regan Bartel

Calls Colton Dach's injury gut wrenching

Q&A with GM Bruce Hamilton

Jan 3, 2023 | 6:00 AM

RF: Will it be harder for a European d-man like Marek Rocak to make the transition to the smaller North American ice surface over forward Gabriel Sztruc, when he first played with your team?

BH: “He [Rocak] was in Red Deer at the U18s this summer, so he has been on it [North American size ice]. He knows. I think those players go to enough international tournaments where they are playing on this size of ice, but certainly, there will be an adjustment.”

RF: Are you surprised Rocak elected to come over this late in the season?

BH: “I am just glad we got him. He is the pick [1st round CHL Import Draft] and we knew there was some risk to it. We talked before Christmas and it didn’t sound like he was coming and now, out of the blue, he has contacted us and said he is ready to go. We look forward to having him here.”

RF: Bruce, it seemed like an astute pick to grab a d-man in the Import Draft with the graduation of 20-year-old Jake Lee and Tyson Feist last season. That was the plan all along?

GM Bruce Hamilton/AGM Curtis Hamilton

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BH: “With our age spacing, and we always try to pick the best player available. It so happens that he is a defenceman. In that age bracket [17-year-old] we could use some help. He and [Caden] Price match up pretty good. A young [Ismail] Abougouche is making some headway, but he is 16, so you have to be fair on how much the expectations are, and you know as well as anyone, from Christmas on everything changes a little bit.”

RF: Your team is struggling right now. What have you seen from your team prior and just after Christmas?

BH: “We are no doubt in a bit of a funk. We have lost five games in a row. If you go back to the Medicine Hat game, where this started, I think we were counting our candy canes instead of playing hockey in a game we should have probably been better. We drew the long straw in getting Kamloops and Seattle right after…..we are close but not good enough.”

RF: It was heartbreaking to see captain Colton Dach go down to injury at the world junior’s.

BH: “Gut wrenching. We give up our players for that event and it just never feels the same when they get hurt playing in that instead of playing in your own league. I feel bad for him. We have certainly communicated with him. He is pretty down, and yet, we had an MRI report and their is certainly some damage. He will likely move right into the hands of the Chicago Blackhawks medical team and they will make a decision whether how long he is going to be out.”

RF: Any idea on his timeline?

BH: “He is likely out eight weeks for sure. He would be a playoff guy or the two last weeks of the season. We will see what happens. This team is made up of more guys than one, so we are going to have to get back on track and get playing.”

RF: Is Adam Kydd close to returning to action?

BH: “He is about 10 days away. Friday he has an important imaging done on his ankle to see where it is at, but he is skating and so we will see how it comes along.”

RF: The WHL trade deadline is next week. Are you sellers, buyers and stand buyers?

BH: “I have never really been a seller, as you are well aware. I don’t call us sellers. I think if anything we are trying to make our team better.”