Rookie Kalder Varga - Photo credit: RocketFAN

By Regan Bartel

Grueling road trip ends with optimism

Rockets building resilience for future success

Mar 9, 2025 | 10:36 AM

It was a monumental challenge.

Hotels, travel, and fierce competition for close to two weeks.

The Kelowna Rockets faced the daunting task of playing eight straight games on the road, embarking on a 12-day journey that began in Prince George on February 25 and concluded in Edmonton on March 7. However, the road trip truly started on February 22, with a 4-3 overtime victory over the Vancouver Giants, ending a 15-game winless streak. Although the team celebrated breaking the longest losing streak in franchise history, they went on to lose the next seven games, including a five-game stretch through the Central Division. 

During this seven-game skid, the Rockets were outscored 45-15, suffering heavy defeats in Red Deer and Calgary, followed by narrow losses in Medicine Hat (5-2), Lethbridge (7-4), and against the Oil Kings (6-3). In the final two games of the trip, they gave up two empty-net goals to the Hurricanes and one to the Oil Kings.

Nine of the 15 goals they would score came in the first period. Twenty of the 45 goals allowed came in the third period.  

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Traveling over 3,500 kilometers and spending more than 38 hours on the bus took its toll on the team, which began the journey without an overage player due to season-ending injuries to Michael Cicek and captain Max Graham. They also iced a roster that had played the second fewest man-games in the Western Hockey League. 

“There are signs of positivity from this group,” Rockets interim head coach Derrick Martin shared with RocketFAN, despite the disappointing results. “I know that’s not what people want to hear back home, but the future is bright for this team, and it’s because of the guys in that locker room who are pushing through these tough times.” 

If the saying, “adversity makes you stronger,” holds true, then the 2024-2025 Kelowna Rockets will undoubtedly emerge more hardy, even though they were officially eliminated from playoff contention on Wednesday with a loss to the Hurricanes. Despite taking an early 2-0 lead, they couldn’t hold it, yet arguably played their best game since the trade deadline. 

“It’s a tough group of men in that room,” Martin remarked. “They’re going to push through this. There are brighter days ahead for this group, and I’d bet a lot of money on that. I’m excited to see their continued growth as we finish out the regular season.” 

Of the 45 goals allowed over the eight games, 17, or 38 percent, came while killing penalties. Twice, against Red Deer and Calgary, the Rockets allowed 5 power-play goals. 

“I give those players a lot of credit,” Martin added. “The scoreboard doesn’t tell the whole story. These teams [in the Central Division] are out here to win, and these games were valuable tests for us, showing what that level feels like. That’s where we want to be in a year—contending for a league championship.” 

Hard lessons are being learned by a team with 40 losses this season, just the fourth time this has occurred since the team relocated from Tacoma to Kelowna in 1995. 

If they can learn quickly, much like the 2006-2007 team that missed the playoffs but featured young defensemen Tyler Myers, Luke Schenn, and a 15-year-old Tyson Barrie, all of whom were tested by stronger competition, they may follow the same trajectory. Just two seasons later, all three were WHL champions, proving that short-term struggles can lead to long-term success. 

“For many of the guys, this trip was a new experience,” Martin continued. “We were able to do some team-building. The end result isn’t what we hoped for, but we’re competitors.

“I’m proud of our group’s resilience and the way they bounced back after the trip didn’t start as we had hoped.”