Photo credit: RocketFAN

By Regan Bartel

Highly touted prospect skates with team

Eye-opening experience for Rockets’ Eli Barrett

Jan 26, 2024 | 8:00 AM

Being a highly regarded prospect isn’t easy.

Fifteen-year-old Eli Barrett is finding that out this season after being chosen by the Kelowna Rockets in May’s WHL Prospects Draft.

Returning to Yale Hockey Academy for another year of seasoning with the hope of making the jump to major junior next fall, Barrett has hit a speed bump.

“The numbers aren’t exactly where I want them to be,” Barrett told RocketFAN, with only three goals in 19 Canadian Sports School Hockey League games this season. “The last five to ten games I have been picking up my game. I had a slump at the Edmonton Showcase, and I wasn’t my best.

“I am feeling better about my game. I am feeling confident with the puck, which you need to have, so I am finding my peak shape.”

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You have to admire a teenager, who won’t turn 16 until April 11^th, for having the ability to dissect his game and know when he isn’t playing at his optimum level. Blaming others, and not looking internally is the easy path to take, where being accountable for ones own actions appear to be a lost art.

“They [Rockets] expect me to go out every game with my club team and be the best player I can,” he said. “I like the pressure of them telling me to do better in this area of my game, it’s good.”

Chosen in the second round, with the Rockets’ first pick in the 2023 draft, Barrett is a big part of the team’s future, so the organization wisely brought the Surrey, B.C resident in earlier this week for some practice time.

Head Coach Kris Mallette says it was valuable for Barrett to see how his older peers prepare and practice to play in the best developmental league in the world.

“The biggest thing for Eli was to see how hard we work,” Mallette said. “Whether it is an off day, in the lineup or out of the lineup, the daily preparation is immense.

“While he only had one full practice with us [Tuesday], we had a few battle drills where I am sure he would tell you that he has to work on his strength.”

While looking physically more mature than he did at rookie camp in late August, the 5’9 forward who has a hard time tipping the scales at 150 pounds, needs to make progress in his overall game.

“He isn’t the biggest player, but he has a great hockey mind,” Mallette continued. “I think his time with us is a bit of a wakeup. He hasn’t played a whole bunch back at Yale, so if he wants to play in this league, he has to up his game where he is playing right now which means not just playing consistently on the offensive side, he needs to compete harder for pucks.”

One of three-2008 prospects signed by the Rockets, Barrett should feel privileged that they are showing concern over his evolution as a player.

“I am getting bigger,” Barrett said with a gleam in his eye. “In the gym and on the ice, I am getting stronger and faster. I grew a bit. I am trying to take advantage of my dad’s genes, which is good, but practicing five days a week, you lose a lot of calories so it is tough to put on weight.”

While Rockets leading scorer Andrew Cristall is someone most skilled players want to emulate, forward Tij Iginla may be the best example of someone who practices as hard as he plays.

“I’ve been watching a lot of the games [online] this year,” Barrett offered. “Tij Iginla, man, he can score left-right and centre. I watched the game where he had a hattrick.

“He is an unreal player and was so deserving of being at the Top Prospects Game.”