Photo credit: Steve Dunsmoor
GM Bruce Hamilton/AGM Curtis Hamilton
Things that make me go hmm…
Dec 3, 2024 | 7:00 AM
- It’s been a huge week for the Kelowna Rockets, with the team officially awarded the 2026 Memorial Cup last Wednesday. Kelowna’s bid beat out four other cities, with Medicine Hat seen as the toughest competitor – largely because of the presence of Gavin McKenna, the WHL’s top scorer and likely first overall pick in the 2026 NHL Draft. Despite the Tigers’ on-ice talent, the team’s home arena was always going to be a tough sell in comparison to Kelowna’s Prospera Place. A quick look at Co-op Place on Google Maps explains a lot. Situated in the middle of the prairie, the arena is surrounded by little more than a few local businesses—like a Kal Tire, a few hotels, and a Fox Canada safety supplier. There’s a Boston Pizza and Costco down the road, but it’s not the most bustling or picturesque location. In terms of hosting an event like the Memorial Cup, the setting puts Medicine Hat near the bottom of the list in terms of appeal. On the other hand, Kelowna’s Prospera Place offers a more vibrant, scenic, and accessible environment, which makes it a much more attractive destination for teams, fans, and media alike. With the natural beauty of the Okanagan Valley, as well as a more dynamic surrounding area, it’s easy to see why Kelowna ultimately won the bid. Even with McKenna’s star power, the location of the event seemed to play a decisive role in the outcome. For Kelowna, winning the Memorial Cup in 2026 is a huge opportunity to solidify the city’s status as a premier WHL market – if they can build on this momentum and deliver a memorable event.
- The Kelowna Rockets have rarely been known for making big moves at the trade deadline, and parting with their top scorer is an even rarer occurrence. In fact, it’s only happened twice in the team’s history by our recollection. The most recent example came in 2023, when Colton Dach, the team’s leading scorer the season prior, was traded to the Seattle Thunderbirds for a first-round pick, a second-rounder, along with players Ethan Mittelsteadt and Ty Hurley. At the time of the trade, Dach was coming off a standout season in 2021-2022 with the Rockets and was recovering from an injury sustained at the World Junior Hockey Championship. He wouldn’t return to the T-Birds lineup until February 18th, facing the Victoria Royals. The only other notable trade of a high-profile player in the Rockets’ history was the departure of Brett McLean in 1999. McLean, the franchise’s all-time points leader, was sent to the Brandon Wheat Kings. At the time, McLean was having a career year, leading the Rockets with 37 goals and 70 points in just 44 games. His value was through the roof, making it a deal that was hard to pass up. Both Dach and McLean were key players for the Rockets, and their departures marked significant moments in the team’s history. But these trades also demonstrate how rare it is for the Rockets to part with their star talent, particularly when the player is leading the team in scoring.
- It’s the ‘White Elephant’ in the room – an uncomfortable topic that’s tough to discuss: the possibility of trading away leading scorer Andrew Cristall to a contending team in exchange for valuable assets to help build a strong Rockets squad for 2026. Despite the swirling rumors, Cristall is taking a mature approach to the situation. “Right now, I play for the Rockets,” he told RocketFAN with the poise of someone far beyond his 19 years. “I want to help the team win and do what I can. I’m trying not to think about it, just go out there and be myself, play my role, and help the team win.” Cristall’s mindset reflects a rare level of maturity, focused entirely on the present and doing everything he can to contribute to the Rockets’ success – no matter what the future holds. But the reality is, with his exceptional performance this season, the 19-year-old forward is becoming one of the most sought-after trade assets in the WHL, and the Rockets will face tough decisions ahead as they look toward building for the future.
- Is Cristall one of the best players to ever wear Kelowna Rockets colours? The answer is a resounding yes!! Now top three in scoring – all-time – the second-round NHL draft pick of the Washington Capitals has 327 points, six shy of John Varga for second place – all-time – and 48 back of franchise leader Brett McLean’s 375.
- Looking back to when the Rockets organization won the bid for the Memorial Cup in 2020, the changes started in May of the previous year when the team swung two deals, one with the Seattle Thunderbirds by acquiring Jake Lee, Dillon Hamaliuk and goalie Cole Schwebius. The belief was Hamaliuk was the key piece in that deal, which cost the team a 1st and 2nd round bantam pick along with forward Conner Bruggen-Cate. In retrospect, Jake Lee was likely the most productive before moving on to play Canadian University hockey at UBC. Lee had 16 goals and 46 points in 66 games as an overager. Hamaliuk had just 31 points in 56 games in the Memorial Cup season, which was eventually cancelled due to the pandemic. He is now playing pro hockey in Europe. The best trade to bolster the roster came in December of that season when the team acquired Matthew Wedman from the T-Birds. Wedman was the real deal, and the best 20-year-old available at the time. Despite no Memorial Cup in 2020, Wedman was named the team MVP. A trade with the Edmonton Oil Kings to acquire the best offensive defenseman on the market that season – Connor McDonald – also didn’t translate with just 4 goals and 16 points in 32 games. The team surrendered first round picks in both of those trades.
- The next two Western Hockey League trade deadlines could look drastically different for the Kelowna Rockets, and it’s all because of the 2026 Memorial Cup. With the organization now confirmed as the host, general manager Bruce Hamilton and assistant GM Curtis Hamilton face a pivotal period in shaping the team’s future. As the trade deadline approaches on January 11th, the Rockets are expected to be sellers. It’s a reality the team has to face as they build towards the future. But the story will be very different in January 2026, when Kelowna should be a major player in the market, working to add high-end talent in preparation for hosting the Memorial Cup. For now, though, the team’s focus is on gathering assets. They can’t afford to jump the gun on next season’s roster until they have a better sense of what opportunities will be available. Will a high-impact 20-year-old unexpectedly return to the WHL, or will a 19-year-old have a breakout season after being merely average as an 18-year-old? The possibilities are endless, but the Rockets can’t make those moves yet. For the time being, accumulating draft picks and other assets is the logical route for Hamilton and his staff. It’s a necessary step in laying the groundwork for what will likely be an exciting, roster-building summer ahead. The 2026 Memorial Cup is still 18 months away, but the decisions made now will help determine the Rockets’ chances when that time comes.
- Failing to move high-end players when you don’t have the pieces to contend for a championship can be a costly mistake. The Regina Pats offer a perfect example of this, as they’re now paying the price for not trading Connor Bedard when they had the chance. Missing the playoffs last season, and likely on track to do so again in 2024-2025, the Pats are stuck in a tough position. Even with a coaching change, it’s clear that the direction of the team isn’t going to improve drastically in the short term. The recent trade of Tanner Howe to the Calgary Hitmen is a clear signal that the Pats are throwing in the towel this season. With just six wins so far, they’re already 16 victories behind their total from all of 2023-2024. It’s a tough reality for a team that once had one of the most sought-after players in recent WHL history, but now finds itself in a rebuilding phase, too far from contention to compete at a high level. Regina’s misstep in not moving Bedard for a significant return is a cautionary tale for other teams. It highlights the importance of knowing when to cash in on top-tier talent, especially when the window to win is closing. By holding on too long, the Pats have not only missed out on a chance to reload with draft picks and prospects, but they’re also now facing a much longer and more painful rebuild. (Note: Bedard may have had a no-trade clause in his player agreement)
- One of the Regina Pats veterans we can’t help but feel for this season is 20-year-old John Babcock. The former Kelowna Rockets defenseman returned to Prospera Place on Saturday night to face his old team for the first time since being traded to the Saskatoon Blades at last year’s trade deadline. Though he’s focused on the here and now, we couldn’t resist asking Babcock about his future. “I don’t like to look at the future too much, but it keeps nagging at the back of my mind,” he admitted to RocketFAN. “With this NCAA thing opening up, that may be the right route for me to go.” Babcock’s situation is one many can relate to – caught between the present challenges and the uncertainty of what lies ahead. With the potential for NCAA opportunities on the horizon, the veteran blueliner is clearly weighing his options, but for now, he remains focused on doing what he can for his team. Still, as his WHL career nears its end, it’s clear that thoughts of the next chapter are starting to creep in.
- Kelowna Rockets Head Coach Kris Mallette had nothing but good things to say about John Babcock when the Pats rolled into town for game two of a BC Division road trip. “‘Babs’ came in with me as the coach during the COVID bubble season. He was a warrior. An ultimate team guy. He looks older than he is. He had that physical intimidation presence. He was someone who the guys liked to be around and he was someone who kept other teams honest. He was a hot commodity as a 19-year-old last year and got the opportunity last year with Saskatoon to play in as a five or a six [d-man] to eat up some time for some of their minute munchers, and that is what he is good at.”
- It is a rough estimate, but it is believed 47 players have moved in and out of the Regina Pats lineup this season.
- I liked the trade between the Lethbridge Hurricanes and Moose Jaw Warriors on Monday. Go big or go home. Hurricanes GM Peter Anholt swung for the fences. Love it. If he thinks his team can win now – full throttle!!!
- When the 32-man roster for the Canadian World Junior team was announced, the conversation quickly turned to who wasn’t on the list. Both Andrew Cristall and standout defenseman Caden Price earned well-deserved invites, but the notable omission was Tij Iginla, a name that many expected to see. To be honest, though, I’m not too stirred up about it. The Canadian roster is incredibly deep this year, and Iginla is still just 18. If a 19-year-old player is seen as being of equal value and is given the opportunity to earn a spot, that’s the way it should be. It’s a tough lineup to crack, and if the team feels someone else is the better fit, I can respect that decision. Iginla has plenty of time ahead of him, and I’m confident we’ll see him shine in future tournaments. He’ll likely be a key player for Canada in next year’s World Juniors in Minneapolis-Saint Paul, where he’ll have his chance to prove himself on the big stage. Sometimes, patience is part of the journey, and for Iginla, his time will come.
- At 2023 words, it is time to shut the barn door for another week. The Rockets begin a stretch of three games in three nights this weekend, including a Teddy Bear Toss game in Victoria on Sunday. The Rockets hold there’s December 14th against the Wenatchee Wild.
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