Bruce Hamilton with MVP Tij Iginla - Photo credit: Steve Dunsmoor

By Regan Bartel

Owner/GM believes team has turned corner

‘I thought our guys made some big strides’ – Rockets GM Bruce Hamilton

Apr 23, 2024 | 7:00 AM

This is part one of a two-part conversation. Part two will be featured on Friday.

Bruce Hamilton is not the warm and fuzzy type.

The General Manager of the Kelowna Rockets shows emotion, a competitive spirit and isn’t satisfied with mediocrity.

Each season, he believes his team should challenge for a league title, or in a worst-case scenario, be among the most successful in the 22-team circuit.

“Anytime you don’t win, you are disappointed, or you shouldn’t be doing this job,” the 66-year-old told RocketFAN. “Getting through that first round [this season] meant so much for me for the development of our team. I thought our guys made some big strides.”

Notes, quotes and anecdotes

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Apr 16, 2024

Notes, quotes and anecdotes

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Mar 25, 2024

Getting the mic ripped out of my hands

Things that make me go hmm..

Mar 08, 2024

Retooling a roster that started last May with the acquisition of forward Michael Cicek, management wasn’t afraid to bring players in and ship players out both before and during the 2023-2024 campaign.

“We brought in some new players and that changed the makeup of our room, which is what I really wanted,” Hamilton added. “I think it happened. We moved out some characters that I didn’t think were fitting in with the way we were doing things, so I think our team has some bright days ahead of us.”

Hamilton added Tij Iginla and Hiroki Gojsic before the puck even dropped on a new season, with Jake Pilon, Luke Schelter, Brett Calhoon, Kayden Sadhra-Kang, and Carter Kowalyk acquired through trade.

“This is the first time in four years I have been this excited about what we have coming back,” he said. “We have all of our [draft] picks, so we will have tremendous depth.”

Let’s also not forget, Tij Iginla, Andrew Cristall and Caden Price could all be invited to Hockey Canada’s summer camp for the world junior team. All three will return next season.

With an optimistic outlook when training camp opens in four short months, Hamilton is hoping the losing stops, and a more consistent team preforms on the ice in 2024-2025.

“Training camp will be very, very competitive next year,” he added. “We haven’t had that for a few years. That’s what it is all about – competition.”

Veteran players will have to be at their best. A new wave of young guns, not since the likes of Tyler Spurgeon, Blake Comeau and Mike Card made their debuts in 2004 as rookie 16-year-old’s, will the team see an uptick in young hockey IQ.

“Right now, I fully intend to keep three 16-year-olds that are all elite players,” Hamilton said. “We will add another real good European player. We are pretty confident of that to replace Gabriel Szturc. Up front, I think we are a team that is going to score some goals.”

With playoff MVP Jari Kykkanen an easy fit to fill one of three overage spots, can the Rockets challenge for a BC Division title with highly skilled Prince George, with the Cougars again being a power next fall?

“Once we got [Jari] Kykkanen sorted out, and he sorted himself out, that solidified our goaltending,” Hamilton added. “He really played well, so I feel a lot better than I did at this time last year.”

Reading between the lines, two of those rookies could be forward Kalder Varga, chosen 7th in the 2023 U.S Prospects Draft and Horoki Gojsic’s younger brother, Kanjyu, taken in the 3rd round of the WHL Prospects Draft in 2023. Don’t sleep on 2008-born d-man Jacob Henderson either, taken in the third round in 2023, having a legitimate shot of wearing the teal, red, copper, black and white.

“I think if you bury them, playing with themselves, it doesn’t work,” Hamilton pointed out. “They need to play with someone so they can show what they have, because these are all players drafted in the first three rounds.

“We are excited about them anyways.”