Photo credit: Steve Dunsmoor

By Regan Bartel

Determination grows for 2nd round pick

Eli Barrett: Aiming for Rockets roster spot next season

Mar 19, 2025 | 11:00 AM

It’s hard not to root for Eli Barrett. 

The 16-year-old prospect of the Kelowna Rockets, who will turn 17 on April 11th, has given his all to his junior team this season. 

Rather than sulking or complaining about not making the team in his first full season of junior eligibility, the articulate Surrey, B.C. native rolled up his sleeves, put in the work, and thrived during another season at Yale Hockey Academy. 

“This is my second time back here with the team,” Barrett shared about his recent call-up by the Rockets, following a brief stint in December where he registered his first WHL point, an assist in a game against the Tri-City Americans. “To come in and see how far I’ve come since my time at Yale, it’s been really exciting.” 

Barrett led the Yale Hockey Academy’s U18 Prep team in scoring this season, posting 16 goals and 25 assists for 41 points in 31 games, helping his team finish 5th. 

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“I definitely took the Rockets’ feedback to heart when they sent me back to Yale in September,” Barrett reflected, even though he felt disappointed at first for not making a team that featured four 16-year-olds: Kanjyu Gojsic, Kalder Varga, Jake Henderson, and Owen Folstrom. “They told me to go back to Yale and dominate, to be the guy on my team. I think I did that, but of course, I couldn’t have done it without my teammates.” 

Barrett and Yale finished the season with a record of 20-13-3 in 36 games, but they were eliminated in the Canadian Sport School Hockey League U18 championships in Penticton last weekend. 

“We had a tough start, and we didn’t win much early on,” Barrett recalled about his season. “But we really grew as a team. In January and February, we turned things around and won a lot of games. We had a great playoff run, but unfortunately, we lost in a shootout to South Alberta Hockey Academy.” 

Barrett isn’t the first highly regarded Kelowna Rockets prospect to be sent back for more development at a lower level. 

“When I got cut, there were a couple of days when I was upset,” he admitted. “I’m young, and I still have a lot to work on. But looking at it positively, going back to Yale was a good opportunity for me to improve and play more. Now, looking back, it was definitely a positive thing for my development.” 

Barrett need look no further than his former teammate at Yale, Kamloops Blazers forward Tommy Lafreniere, for inspiration. Lafreniere led Yale in scoring last season as a 16/17-year-old before joining the Blazers this fall, where he’s netted 24 goals and currently leads all WHL rookies in goal scoring. 

“This season gave me a lot more confidence than last year,” Barrett shared. “Last year, I wasn’t playing much, didn’t get a lot of ice time, so getting more opportunities and going back to Yale was definitely a good thing.” 

Barrett admits he kept a close eye on the Rockets this season, watching as many games as he could on the WHL webcast, all while hoping to be a part of the team full-time next year. 

“I’m a little surprised at how tough it’s been [winning games] this season,” he said. “The CHL had the Rockets ranked in the top-10 at the start of the year, but with all the trades, things changed fast. Andrew Cristall is gone. Caden Price is gone in the blink of an eye. I watched most of the games, supported the team, and I’ve got a lot of friends on it.” 

As the Kelowna Rockets play their second-to-last home game of the season tonight against the Victoria Royals (with the pre-game show on 104-7 The Lizard at 6:40 pm and play-by-play at 7:05 pm), Barrett is hoping to get some playing time and end his season on a high note. 

“I know I’ve got a lot of work to do this off-season,” Barrett acknowledged, understanding that a spot on the team for the 2025-2026 season is not guaranteed. “I need to get stronger, so I don’t get knocked off the puck so easily. I need to make the team first, so I’ve got to work hard this summer.” 

“When I come back in August and September, I need to show the organization that I’m in the best shape possible,” he added. 

“If I make the team next year, it’s going to be a long season into June, so I have to be both mentally and physically prepared. I’m excited for the off-season and the opportunity to work toward that.”