Photo credit: Steve Dunsmoor

By Regan Bartel

Rookie Rowan Guest aims to shine

Saskatoon Born-Trio Face Off Against Blades in Emotional Matchup

Nov 8, 2024 | 7:00 AM

Three members of the Kelowna Rockets – Caden Price, Jaxon Kehrig, and Rowan Guest – bring extra motivation to tonight’s game (104-7 The Lizard pre-game show starts at 6:35 pm) as they face off against their hometown Saskatoon Blades at Prospera Place.

For rookie defenseman Guest, it’s a particularly special moment, as he takes on the team he grew up idolizing in the Saskatchewan city. 

“I always watched them growing up,” Guest told RocketFAN. “I was close to the Blades too, pre-draft my parents were talking to them. My neighbours had season tickets, so we would always go with them to games. I always looked up to those guys, so it is surreal to be playing against my hometown team when I am in the league now.”

With all intentions on going the NCAA route, many WHL teams passed on selecting the big burly defender until the Kelowna Rockets took a calculated gamble by choosing him in the 11th-round back in 2021.  

“I know the [Blades] coach. He is my skills coach in the summers,” Guest added. “I probably played against half their team when I was growing up in Saskatchewan. I grew up with Blades d-man Morgan Tastad, so I have the connection there.”

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With a strong hockey culture and long winters, the Saskatoon area continues to produce some of the top Western Hockey League talent. Look no further than Prince George forward Riley Heidt, Moose Jaw sniper Brayden Yager, Lethbridge Hurricanes Noah Chadwick, Spokane’s Berkly Catton and Kelowna Rockets offensive defenseman Caden Price, all with a chance of suiting up for Canada at Christmas in the World Junior Hockey Championships.

“Around here [BC] it is always zone hockey, but in Saskatoon it was city-wide,” Guest explaining why the city of 300 thousand produces so many good players. “You get all the players across the city and do a draft. You draft players to different teams, so you are not playing for a certain zone. You don’t get lopsided teams, so it is more competitive that way. 

“I think another reason the area produces some real good players is the outdoor rinks. We are always skating throughout the winter, whereas here, you may not get that opportunity. You grow up on the rink pretty much. Guys are on skates since you are four [years old], so I think that is a big advantage too.” 

Growing up in Saskatoon, Guest often found himself matched up against some of the top players, including current teammate Caden Price.

“I played against him,” he said with a sense of satisfaction. “He was one of the top guys in Saskatoon. He is a guy you look up to. When he was younger, he was always the top guy and you always had to watch out for him. In spring hockey, it was always the Saskatchewan Huskies were always the best. That is where Caden Price and Berkly Catton played.”  

After joining the midget Saskatoon Contacts in 2021-2022, the now 18 year-old decided to head to Victoria to play prep hockey to earn an NCAA scholarship.

“My vision was to play NCAA,” he said honestly. I wanted to go out there and get the BCHL exposure. I heard the [NCAA] rules where probably going to change, so that is when I made the switch and signed a WHL contract with the Rockets.”

Off the ice, Guest is a hardcore Saskatchewan Roughrider fan, and will be watching with interest when the CFL team mets the Winnipeg Blue Bombers in Saturday’s Western Finals.

“Oh huge,” Guest responds without hesitation when asked if he is a supporter of the green and white. “In 2013, in that Grey Cup, we went and watched because my dad worked for CN at the time and he had tickets to the game. I continue to follow them, and where I train in Saskatoon, some of them [Riders] come into the gym there.”

The Riders ended up winning that game by defeating the Hamilton Ti-Cats 45-23 for the franchises fourth league championship.

“You look across the country, I see people even in Victoria with Saskatchewan Roughriders hats,” Guest added.

“Being from Saskatoon, it’s awesome to see people showing their Rider Pride.”