Photo credit: Lethbridge Hurricanes

By Regan Bartel

D-man finding upside on being dealt

The Kelowna Rockets make a Sharpe trade

Jan 8, 2025 | 6:00 AM

“It came out of the blue.” 

Those were the words of 17-year-old defenseman Will Sharpe, reflecting on the surprising news that he had been traded from the Lethbridge Hurricanes to the Kelowna Rockets in a high-profile deal involving Caden Price. 

On Monday night, while hanging out with some teammates in Lethbridge, Sharpe received an unexpected call from his billet mom asking him to come home. 

At first, he feared something had happened to his family in British Columbia but soon learned that Hurricanes general manager Peter Anholt wanted to speak with him. 

“I basically figured what the talk was going to be about,” Sharpe said. “It was hard to process, but in the end, I am really excited about this move. Obviously, the opportunities to go to Kelowna, for this year but for next year with the Memorial Cup, so I think it is the best scenario for me.” 

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A first-round bantam draft pick in 2022, Sharpe is a skilled defenseman with above-average skating ability. It took him a moment to truly absorb the news. 

“Hearing the news is shocking. I wasn’t expecting it,” Sharpe continued. “It makes you a little upset, but when I found out the reason why it was me, maybe not somebody else… the reason behind the trade is flattering. I was the piece that they [Kelowna] wanted in return, so to be a part of that trade, getting exchanged for a world junior drafted defenseman, I think that is a compliment.” 

Indeed, it is. The Rockets were looking for a player who fit certain criteria: someone younger, able to play right away, and with a proven track record in the WHL. Sharpe, who has already played close to 100 games in the league, has demonstrated he is on the rise as a player. 

“On social media, you saw all these world junior players coming back and getting traded, and I never thought I would be thrown into one of those deals. Being in Lethbridge the last two years, I knew there was always a possibility, but I wasn’t really thinking about it too much.” 

Reading between the lines, RocketFAN senses that Sharpe may not have realized how coveted he was as a younger player. The truth is, he was highly sought after by the team that he will debut with on Friday night when the Rockets face the Prince George Cougars. 

“The offensive upside to my game is a big part of what makes me succeed as a player,” Sharpe said, adding that he models his game after Seattle Kraken defenseman Vince Dunn. “Being able to create plays, helping my teammates in that area and turning defense into offense.” 

Among 2007-born defensemen, Sharpe ranks second in WHL scoring, trailing only Tri-City’s Jackson Smith. 

“I like to use my skating, which is one of my strengths,” Sharpe said. “I like to get up in the play, and create more. I think I have a good stick, and can close gaps early and shut down plays quickly, but I think the biggest part of my game is the offensive upside and my vision in the O-zone.” 

Sharpe has already tallied 27 points in 35 games this season, up from 11 points in his rookie campaign as a 16-year-old last year. 

“Nothing is given to you, everything is earned,” Sharpe added when asked about his potential to quarterback Kelowna’s power play. “I’m not expecting everything to be handed to me. I’m going in there with a fresh start. I have to work for what I want. Playing in Lethbridge, on the second [power play] unit, there wasn’t a lot of opportunity, but I did succeed with the minutes I had, and as we move on here, I hope to get a little more in that area and continue to excel.” 

Moving closer to home will have its perks for Sharpe. He won’t miss the Alberta winters, and being nearer to his family in British Columbia, including his father Jeff, a former UBC Thunderbirds football wide receiver, is an exciting prospect. 

“It does feel nicer to be coming closer to home,” Sharpe admitted. “It’s nice to get to go to Vancouver so soon [Saturday night], playing and seeing a bunch of family. They never really get the chance to come out here to Lethbridge because of the expense and distance, so it’s comforting being closer to home.” 

“Everybody has been good to me here [in Lethbridge]. That will be the hardest thing for me to get past—leaving everybody behind,” he added. 

“We play in Lethbridge in March. I already have that date circled.”