Ex-Kelowna Rockets defender coveting the Stanley Cup

“At the start of training camp, the thought was we could probably go under the radar after missing the playoffs last year”, Korczak told RocketFAN. “Nobody expected us to have a bounce-back season. In the playoffs, we were the underdogs for sure against the Edmonton Oilers. I don’t know about Winnipeg, but the team has been surpassing expectations for sure.”

The Knights beat the Jets in five games, and then the Oilers and Dallas Stars in six games.

For the second time in the last six seasons, the Knights are one of only two teams that remain standing, after losing in the finals in five games to the Washington Capitals in their inaugural season back in 2018.

“Anywhere you want to go, there is always something going on [with the team]”, Korczak added about the playoff fever gripping Sin City. “Either the game is on or someone is wearing jerseys, you see [Golden Knight] license plates and flags, so you really can’t get away from it.”

Korczak, drafted in the second round, 41st overall by the Knights in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft, played most of this past season with the Henderson Knights, Vegas’ American Hockey League affiliate.

The Yorkton, Saskatchewan product also had the fortune of playing 10 games with the NHL team, including one against the Florida Panthers, the nemesis they face for hockey’s holy grail.

“They are quick. There d-man move well”, Korczak assessing the Panthers lethal attack. “They are solid. Obviously [Sergei] Bobrovsky is playing very good right now. I played against Matthew Tkachuk [back on January 12th]. He plays like he does on TV. He stirs things up. He chirps. He is pretty good at his job.”

In the AHL, Korczak, played in 50 games this past season, putting up four goals and a modest 14 points.

“Vegas’ d-core is one of the tops in the league,” Korczak evaluating his chances of cracking the roster next season. “I just have to wait for a spot. I need to be patient. Let the time come. I was pretty happy with it [this past season]. I got a bigger role, and I was a go-to guy so I was happy with that.”

As a member of a seven-man taxi squad, Korczak doesn’t travel with the team in the postseason, but is at their beck and call if an injury pops up.

“It is good for me to see behind the scenes on what happens on practice days,” Korczak seizing the opportunity to skate with the team at home before watching the games in the press box at T-Mobile Arena.

Whether it be an injury to veteran forward Mark Stone or a goalie carousel that has seen Adin Hill become the teams’ starter after Robin Lehner, Logan Thompson, and Laurent Brossoit went down, the team is winning games by committee.

“It is kind of crazy, honestly,” Korczak with a sense of awe in his voice. “The work he [Stone] put in after what can only be considered a massive injury is impressive. A lot of guys have put in the work to get back after injuries that were supposed to be longer, so to see that has been inspiring.”

Now in his second pro season, the soft-spoken blueliner says his game has taken a turn for the better since he last skated for the Kelowna Rockets during the makeshift bubble season in the spring of 2021.

“I think the game a lot better now. I am making fewer mistakes.”

Scouts have called Korczak a stay-at-home-defenceman, something he isn’t necessarily comfortable with.

“When I picture a stay-at-home-defenceman, I think of Radko Gudas or a Brayden McNabb”, Korczak said honestly. “I can skate pretty well, so I can jump in the rush and make some plays. Maybe I am a hybrid, where I won’t put up a ton of points, but I can be a threat to score but can also defend.”

If the Knights indeed take down the Panthers and win the Stanley Cup, will his name be engraved on it despite his lack of playing time in the 2023 NHL playoffs?

“I’ve been asked that question”, Korczak said bluntly.

“I have no idea.”

by Regan Bartel

Ex-Kelowna Rockets defender coveting the Stanley Cup

Comments

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

What's Trending