Photo credit: Steve Dunsmoor

By Regan Bartel

From locker room buddy to playoff bully

Marcus Pacheco: Crushing dreams, one ex-teammate at a time

May 6, 2025 | 2:26 PM

Marcus Pacheco used to be the kind of teammate you’d ‘go to war with.’ Now? He’s the guy who ‘shows up in enemy colors, smiles, and casually ruins your season.’

Since his move to the Medicine Hat Tigers, Pacheco has become Public Enemy Number 1 among his former Kelowna Rockets teammates. The Tigers — Eastern Conference darlings and full-blown playoff wrecking crew — have steamrolled through the Swift Current Broncos, bulldozed the Prince Albert Raiders into early summer, and most recently swept the Lethbridge Hurricanes aside with a casual shove and a broom.

And who’s left picking up the pieces? Just a few of Pacheco’s closest ex-teammates: Marek Rocak, Rilen Kovacevic, Trae Johnson, and Caden Price — guys he used to pass the puck to before deciding, apparently, to personally end their playoff dreams.

Pacheco logged 133 regular season games in Kelowna between 2021 and 2023 before being dealt to the ‘Gas City’ in December of 2023 in the Brett Calhoon trade.

“I’m just happy I’ve been on the good side of it,” Pacheco told RocketFAN, reflecting on the handshake lines that followed each series win. “Once we’re in the playoffs, I’m not talking to them after the game. Then when it’s over, you’re shaking hands and telling them to have a good summer.”

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Next up for the third-round pick from Kelowna’s 2020 Prospects Draft? Another familiar face: Andrew Cristall and the Spokane Chiefs, as the WHL Championship — better known as the Ed Chynoweth Cup — begins Friday in Medicine Hat.

“We’ve Snapchatted and talked on the phone a couple times during the playoffs,” Pacheco said. “But now that we’re playing each other, we said ‘good luck,’ congratulated each other after the third round — but there won’t be much chatter until it’s over.”

It’s a strange twist of fate. All three of Kelowna’s top picks from that 2020 class — Cristall (1st round), Price (2nd round), and Pacheco (3rd round) — have since been traded.

“It’s crazy. Who would’ve thought,” Pacheco said. “We all know that if we succeed as a team, it’s all going to come individually. It hasn’t just been me having a career year — other guys have done the same.”

He added, “When we were all sixteen in Kelowna, we thought we were living our best lives. We’ve kept in touch this season and hopefully we can catch up this summer.”

As the Tigers continue their playoff tear, Pacheco’s contributions have been as consistent as they are clutch.

“In the playoffs, everyone shows up,” he said. “The day-in and day-out consistency we’ve built up — it isn’t just one guy that’s going to make it happen, it’s the entire team.”

He’s been a force offensively, sure. But his versatility has also stood out — even filling in on defense when the team needed it.

Then there’s the fun of playing alongside phenom Gavin McKenna, who enters Friday’s tilt riding a 53-game point streak.

“He’s very normal. He’s a beauty,” Pacheco laughed. “He’s super funny. He isn’t what you see in the media — where he’s very serious and says all the right things. When you’re with him, he’s like any young guy you hang out with.”

And in Medicine Hat, Pacheco has found a second home.

“This facility is awesome. Same with our dressing room and gym. The rink is great,” he said. He’s even rooming with another former Rocket, Ethan Neutens.

Of course, the welcome wasn’t exactly gentle.

“The first day here — and it wasn’t even training camp, or a team practice — just a couple of guys getting together for a skate,” he said. “I got a high stick to the chin, popped out one [tooth] and cracked another.”

A rough start. But now? Pacheco’s grinning — cracked tooth and all — with a WHL title in sight.