Photo credit: Kelowna Rockets
Notes, a quote and a few anecdotes
Things that make me go hmm…
Jul 9, 2024 | 7:00 AM
- If the WHL were an Anemometer, which is used to measure wind speed, it could be spinning like a tightly wound top. The winds of change started a week ago today when Kelowna Rockets Assistant Coach Josh MacNevin decided that after three seasons at Kris Mallette’s side, it was time to take his coaching career to pro hockey. Joining the American Hockey League’s Rockford IceHogs, the Chicago Blackhawks affiliate, the hope is a chance to be behind an NHL bench in the not-so-distant future. MacNevin will be familiar with one of the players in Rockford. Colton Dach, who played with the Kelowna Rockets in 2021-2022 before being dealt to the Seattle Thunderbirds was around in MacNevin’s first year after coming over from the coaching staff of the Lethbridge Hurricanes.
- Who is Josh MacNevin’s replacement? You know the number of resumes coming in will be plentiful with the Kelowna Rockets among the cities wanting to host the 2026 Memorial Cup. It is often a tournament where success as a team not only translates into opportunities for the players but the coaches too. If you want to fast-track your way to pro, be a part of a Memorial Cup-winning team.
- Another front office change in the Kelowna Rockets office came when social media guru Paige Bednorz resigned to take a position with the Edmonton Oilers. Bednorz’s return to Edmonton is a homecoming for the 31-year-old, who was born and raised in the City of Champions. It has always been her goal to attain a job at the NHL, and for it to be with the Oilers is the icing on the cake. I think we can all agree, purely from social media perspective, whether it be Tiktok/Instagram or Twitter, and yes Facebook which still has relevance among the older fans, those platforms have accelerated to new levels under her direction. Her success working with the players, capturing memorable moments made headlines on several other platforms including Spittinchiclets Instagram after the players were featured in October, 2022 wearing Halloween costumes. “During Halloween, TikTok had over 100,000 views of our players dressed up in banana costumes skating on the ice, and then the NHL shared the pictures we took on their Instagram feed, and to be honest, I was a little shocked at how well it went,” she told RocketFAN at that time. Whoever takes over the helm of the hockey clubs social media channels, the bar has been set extremely high. The aim isn’t to reach new heights. It is all about keeping the balls in the air.
- On the ice, the team made a few roster moves. It didn’t come as a surprise to see lightly used forward Will Munro released. Munro, who would have returned this season as a 19-year-old, likely saw the writing on the wall. In the second half of the season, he dressed in just eight regular season games after Christmas and was an innocent bystander in all 11 playoff games. An 11th round pick in 2020, the team had five players pull the jersey over their head from that draft. Andrew Cristall was taken in the opening round, with Caden Price chosen in round two. Marcus Pacheco, eventually dealt to Medicine Hat was a third-round pick, while Ethan Neutens was plucked in the 9th round. In mid June, 20 year-old Ty Hurley was released, which means Jari Kykkanen, Michael Cicek, Max Graham and Luke Schelter will battle it out for three overage spots.
- Ethan Neutens name appeared on the rookie summer evaluation camp roster of the NHL’s LA Kings. A free-agent, Neutens is a player with the perfect body type. When you stand 6’3 and weight just over 200 pounds, it catches a scout’s eye. With a career high 9 goals in only his second season in the WHL, the general feeling is the Cochrane, Alberta product is a late bloomer with untapped potential. You don’t want to give up on the player like this, something that can happen easily if given a new lease on life with another team. Some players just take longer to maturate. Look at Alex Swetlikoff, who scored 33 goals with Everett in his final season in the WHL after having an average career with the Kelowna Rockets. Jake Poole would be another example, finding the back of the net 28 times in his overage season after being traded to the Victoria Royals for an 8th round pick.
- It is musical chairs in the WHL broadcast booth this summer. Vacancies opened in Prince Albert, Swift Current, Medicine Hat and Victoria. The Edmonton Oil Kings job was quickly filled when Broncos play-by-play man Mat Barrett jumped ship and went to the city of 981,000 after one short year in the ‘Frontier City’. For the Broncos, another broadcaster leaves the booth as quickly as they got there. Barrett’s predecessor, Craig Beauchemin, lasted four years before moving on to the Tri-City Americans. Joe Kenward had a three year stint calling games for the smallest market in the WHL before moving into the broadcast booth of the Vancouver Giants. While Swift Current is clearly a place to cut your teeth before moving on to a bigger market, the team should consider hiring local. Look at someone who wants to call Swift Current home, not for the short term, but for someone who wants to be there long term.
- It is nice to see Mike Johnston being named to the coaching staff of the Canadian World Junior team. One of the oldest coaches in the WHL at 67, Johnson is well respected amongst his peers. His track record as a winner and his evaluator of talent is among the elite at the WHL level. It also doesn’t hurt to have a WHL voice in the room when picking the roster. Johnston would know Kelowna Rockets forwards Tij Iginla, Andrew Cristall and Caden Price extremely well.
- When the Team Canada coaching staff for the upcoming world juniors was announced, RocketFAN had hoped that Kelowna Rockets Head Coach Kris Mallette would have been given an opportunity. Mallette has been a strong foot soldier for the program over the years, as an assistant coach, most recently for Canada’s entry at the Under 18s. Let’s hope we hear Mallette receive a promotion to a significant position with Hockey Canada in the not-so-distant future.
- Next Friday will be a big night in Penticton. The BC Hockey Hall of Fame will induct several new members including former Kelowna Rockets d-man Shea Weber. It only seems fitting that Weber be inducted, considering he will be bestowed the same honour, but at a much more prestigious NHL Hall of Fame in November. Weber is no stranger to the BC Hockey Hall of Fame though. He and his teammates from the 2003-2004 Kelowna Rockets were inducted in the ‘team category’ back in 2014. RocketFAN was there, having the privilege of jumping up on the podium and introduce the players from that team that attended the event on a hot and humid July evening.
- “I was a bit of a late bloomer, filling out and growing into my body,” Weber recently told Donnie and Dhali. “Just play a lot of sports kids. That is what I recommend. Play a lot of different sports. Mentally you need a break. Meeting new friends. We put our kids into sports, not to get to the NHL but because of the character traits they provide,” he added. Weber’s kids play hockey, soccer and baseball and he now coaches them.
- Is it hot enough for you? Tuesday’s temperature in Kelowna could hit 39 degrees. Those who wear pants in this weather and opt out of the much cooler shorts, you indeed are a brave soul.
- At 1307 words, it is time to shut the barn doors. To think Canada is playing Argentina in the biggest game in our nations soccer history. Amazing. Listen to any media scrum involving head coach Jesse Marsch, and I am on board.
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