Falling to a team full of first-round WHL prospect picks

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The turning point came when the Rockets were awarded a power play when Brandon forward Caleb Hadland took a slashing penalty. Instead of scoring, the Rockets surrendered a shorthand goal against. Ex-Rockets Nolan Flamand, with his toothless grin, was able to beat goaltender Jari Kykkanen between the legs with a backhand, and instead of the score possibly being 3-3, it was now 4-2 for the Wheat Kings.

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Before Flamand’s goal, the Rockets hit two goal posts, one off the stick of Cristall just seconds after he made it 3-2, and then early in the power play, with Hadland sitting in the penalty box anxiously, Tij Iginla clanked a puck off the crossbar. Had he scored, it would have tied the game while adding to his total which has reached an impressive 23 goals.

“They have a team that is full of first-round WHL prospect picks that they have been building through the years, so now these guys are 18 and 19 are paying dividends.”

Mallette isn’t joking around. The Wheat Kings have seven players taken in the opening round of the WHL prospects draft. By comparison, the Rockets have only one that they have chosen on their own, plucking Andrew Cristall off the board 8^th overall in 2020. Tij Iginla is also a first round selection, but was acquired via-trade when the 17-year-old was obtained from the defending WHL champion Seattle Thunderbirds this summer.

“I think they [Brandon] are underachieving,” Mallette offered. “I think statistically they should be a team near the top of the standings, but if you talked to Marty Murray [GM/head coach), he would say they have been inconsistent.”

The Rockets’ roster construction is polar opposite to the Wheat Kings, after trading away first-round draft picks to formulate a strong host team for the 2020 Memorial Cup that never happened.

Twelve players on this year’s team are via trade, with the entire forward group of 19-year-olds obtained from other teams. On that list is Ty Hurley (Seattle), Michael Cicek (Spokane), Ben Thorton (Brandon), Max Graham (Everett), and Luke Schelter (Portland). Thorton is the only one of the five who hasn’t played a game on this road trip.

“Bringing in new guys, it is a fresh perspective,” Mallette added. “I think they [players] all have acclimatized well. We are happy with the group we have here and hopefully, we can gain some traction.”

Undefeated in Saskatchewan, after back-to-back wins in Regina and Moose Jaw, the team’s next great test is Friday against the Prince Albert Raiders.

While not as top-heavy in first-round prospect picks as the Wheat Kings, the Raiders have five players that have those credentials, including Kelowna-born Ryder Ritchie, taken in the opening round, 14^th overall in 2021.