Where are they now: Kelowna Rockets Rodney Southam

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Southam’s renovation company prides itself on excellence and attention to detail on any construction project. 

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“My degree at Acadia was community development, with a minor in business,” he continued. “I found something where you need a lot of teamwork. It is the same thing I learned in hockey, so it was second nature for me with my degree and it opened some doors, with not necessarily my degree, but the people I met and the relationships I was able to build.” 

Like many WHL players once their 20-year-old season has concluded, the decision must be made to play pro hockey or take advantage of the WHL’s Education Scholarship. Southam didn’t take the decision lightly, knowing that a game plan on the ice works as successfully as a game plan off it. 

“It was a tough decision, because you want to take hockey as far as you can,” he added. “Honestly, I made the decision early on in my junior career [to go to university]. I knew I was never a top-six forward, so wasn’t guaranteed at the next level, so to play the game I love and take advantage of the scholarship that the WHL provides, I would say 17 or 18 years old I knew what I wanted to do. 

“I was happy to experience university hockey, get a degree and once I had that in my pocket, it opened that door up to explore that opportunity to play pro.” 

After four years at Acadia, where he played for the Axemen, Southam headed off to Glasgow, Scotland for one season before settling down in Halifax where he met a local girl, who is now his fiancée, with the two getting married this fall. 

“I want to thank the WHL for that opportunity,” Southam said graciously. “The schooling was next level. I met some great people. I won’t lie, it was a grind, but it was an amazing experience.” 

Reflecting on amazing experiences, nothing will top the Kelowna Rockets championship team he played on in 2015. 

“Being on a winning team is something you never forget. When I got traded from Tri-City, Kelowna already was a contender, but when they made some great moves by bringing in Leon Draisaitl, Josh Morrissey, Gage Quinney and Chase Braid, it is something you can’t relate to. Dan Lambert, Kris Mallette and Travis Crickard, that whole coaching staff mixed with the guys that we had, that is a year I will never forget.  

“The Kelowna atmosphere, winning the league, and it still stings a little bit, but going to that Memorial Cup, what an experience. To be right there, in overtime, but to lose out. The effort we put in…I keep in touch with those guys on that team.” 

Southam, never one to back down to a challenge, fought at the Memorial Cup, dropping the gloves 13 seconds into the game with Quebec Remparts tough-guy Yannick Turcotte, receiving a black-eye in the process. 

“When you are so submerged in it, and you have adrenaline flowing through your veins, I am a middle weight or a bit lighter compared to some guys,” Southam said with a chuckle after fighting a player 25 pounds heavier than he was. “The things you do for the guys [teammates], it didn’t matter about size. That is still something that gets brought up time to time, and it didn’t matter how it ended up, I was just glad to stand in there.” 

Listen below to Regan Bartel’s interview with Rodney Southam in its entirety:

With the graduation of defenseman Madison Bowey after coming within a hair of winning it all, the team was in the market for a new captain. The nineteen-year-old was chosen to lead the team into the 2015-2016 season as defending champions. 

“I was a guy that it wasn’t about the points, or the personal accolades,” he said about wearing the coveted ‘C’ on his jersey. “It was all about winning for me. I felt I got along with anyone who came through there, but I remember when it did get announced, there was some shock. I remember that wall [in the dressing room] of all the captains, so that was some big shoes to fill. I remember skill wise; it was more of who can I protect and make the team better.” 

Southam’s first year as captain had the team earn a berth in the Western Conference final for a fourth consecutive season. With the acquisition of Reid Gardiner, a hired gun who was playing pro but could return to the WHL if he chose, made the team a contender for a WHL championship repeat. 

“He is from Humboldt, Saskatchewan, so I played against him. I hated playing against him, so when I heard he was coming I was excited to have him on my side. To this day, the shot that Reid had was next to none. He was a different type of Alex Ovechkin. He could score from anywhere in the zone.”  

If Southam could do it all over again, would he change anything about his time in the WHL? 

“I honestly don’t think I would change a thing,” he said without hesitation. 

“The people I met. Bruce Hamilton giving me an opportunity. The teams, the guys, the billet families, it is something I would never change. If I heard the news at 17 that I was coming to Kelowna, I wouldn’t change a thing.”