Photo credit: Steve Dunsmoor

By Regan Bartel

Big swing, big questions

Rolling the dice on Mazden Leslie

May 26, 2025 | 6:00 AM

There’s an old saying: If you don’t ask, you don’t get. The Kelowna Rockets didn’t just ask, they pushed, pursued, and pulled off one of the most intriguing offseason moves in the WHL so far.

The Rockets acquired defenseman Mazden Leslie last week from the Vancouver Giants, a 20-year-old with elite offensive upside and significant WHL experience. It’s a move that clearly signals Kelowna’s intent to load up for a Memorial Cup run on home ice in 2026.

And make no mistake, Leslie is a premium piece. Last season, he finished second in scoring among WHL defensemen with 72 points in 66 games, trailing only Portland’s Tyson Jugnauth. He can drive play, run a power play where he scored 14 times with the extra man, and logs major minutes in all situations. The Rockets didn’t land just another body for the back end, they added a potential difference-maker.

But here’s the catch. Will he report?

Although Kelowna now owns his WHL rights, Leslie is still weighing his options. He’s committed to Bowling Green University, where former Everett Silvertips head coach Dennis Williams is behind the bench. The NCAA route remains on the table, and if he chooses that path, the Rockets’ big swing won’t translate into an immediate boost.

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Still, the Rockets knew the risk and felt it was worth taking.

“He’s definitely one of the most experienced guys,” said Curtis Hamilton, Rockets assistant general manager, in an interview with RocketFAN. “We are very familiar with him. We’ve seen him probably too often,” he added with a laugh.

“[Mazden is] an average-sized, right-shot defenseman who can put up points and run a power play. He competes hard, defends hard, and was a leader in Vancouver for two years. That’s something you can never have enough of. We’re hopeful he can bring that to the table—if and when he shows up here.”

That ‘if’ looms large, but there are plenty of reasons for optimism on Kelowna’s end. With the Memorial Cup coming to Prospera Place in May 2026, the opportunity to play on a contending team, on national TV, in front of NHL scouts – at home – would be an attractive proposition for a player on the brink of the pro game.

“The best route for both parties – the Rockets and Leslie – would be for Mazden to be drafted or signed by an NHL team,” Hamilton added. “He would sign an NHL contract, come back to Kelowna for another year, keep working on his game, fine-tune it, and look to have success.”

He continued: “We talk about it, even some players leaving for the NCAA early, there’s still a chance you can recruit them, especially with the Memorial Cup on the horizon. That’s not attractive to everyone, but for players who are driven to win and be part of something bigger, that’s exactly the type of player we want here.”

It’s not the first time Kelowna has taken big swings to land major talent. From pursuing Duncan Keith while he was at Michigan State, to adding Jamie Benn, to coordinating with the Calgary Flames to bring Mikael Backlund in, and more recently, acquiring the rights to Leon Draisaitl, the Rockets have built a reputation for resourcefulness and relentless pursuit of high-end players. Draisaitl, of course, joined the Rockets in 2015 and helped them win a WHL title.

“If teams are going to move good players and want to get younger with draft picks, they often come to us, and that’s happened before,” said Hamilton. “There are always players we like who may not be available, but it never hurts to call and ask. Especially as Memorial Cup hosts, teams understand the position we’re in.”

So what happens now?

“I don’t think we’ll get clarity on the situation for a little while,” Hamilton admitted. “We’re taking it day by day… more accurately, week by week.”

Leslie’s decision could tip the balance of Kelowna’s roster. If he joins the team, he likely becomes a top-pairing defenseman on a squad already shaping up as a legitimate contender. If he chooses Bowling Green, Kelowna recoups a first- and third-round pick, and will likely be active in turning that capital into another addition.

And while building an all-star lineup might be tempting with the Memorial Cup in mind, Hamilton emphasized a team-first approach.

“Building a good team and building an all-star team are two different things,” he said. “An all-star team doesn’t always win. We’ve got good players coming back, and we want to give the guys we’ve committed to a real chance to show what they can do. But if Mazden decides Kelowna is the right fit, we believe he can be a big part of what we’re building.”

So now, it’s a waiting game. Will Mazden Leslie pull on a Rockets jersey this fall and help lead Kelowna into a deep playoff run and Memorial Cup dream? Or will he take the U.S. college route and begin a new chapter south of the border?

With Door A and Door B both wide open, one thing’s clear. Whatever happens next, the Rockets aren’t standing still.