Photo credit: RocketFAN

By Regan Bartel

Rockets camp Ignites energy

Why this Rockets camp already feels different

Aug 29, 2025 | 6:00 AM

Fresh faces on the coaching staff. A refurbished score clock. An upgraded sound system. A few added veterans and a brand-new season. Something just felt different inside Prospera Place when I walked through the players-only entrance Thursday morning. You can sense it in the building, like the walls themselves know this season matters. The first thing that stood out was the coaching staff. Four of them on the ice, led by head coach Derrick Martin and supported by Don Hay, Brandon McMillan, and Josh Gorges. Hay, officially the associate coach, carries the biggest title of the three, but don’t mistake that for a one-man show. McMillan was still playing in Europe last year, while Gorges logged just under 800 NHL games. So, if Martin’s smart (and he is), he’ll be listening.

From the broadcast booth to the bench, it’s an easy group to cheer for, which makes me want success for them even more. That also means losses will sting more, too. I may only be the “talking head” of the hockey club, but after living through that 18-win season, trust me, I took my share of bruises. The difference this time? The waiting’s over. The future we kept talking about has finally arrived.

Observation #1: Don Hay
Hay looked like a kid in a candy store, if candy stores came with clipboards and whistles. The veteran coach was in his element, working hands-on with players and focusing on the little details. He knows the Rockets’ veterans from coaching against them in Kamloops last year, but practice ice is a different battlefield. Earning their trust is part of the process, and Hay seems to enjoy every second of it. Wearing his trusty ball cap, he worked every corner of the rink, then capped practice by going around the stretching circle, patting players on the back and even fist-bumping newcomer Carson Wetsch. That’s vintage Hay, firm, friendly, and not afraid to sneak in a bit of humour.

Observation #2: Carson Wetsch
I had a quick chat with Wetsch after practice. My goal is to make sure players know who I am early, not just when we’re crammed onto a bus a month from now heading to Penticton. Wetsch carries himself like a pro. Mature, confident, and already showing signs of leadership. During a simple scrimmage, he gave a rookie a pat after a goal. Small gestures like that reveal a lot. Leaders aren’t built on highlight-reel plays, they’re built on moments like this.

Observation #3: Tij Iginla
Iginla didn’t skate at training camp last August due to hip issues and spent time in Utah for evaluation. Fast forward to now, and he’s back on the ice, skating alongside Wetsch. The two already look like early favourites to start the season together. More importantly, Iginla is healthy. His speed and energy instantly raise the pace for everyone else. When he’s flying, the rest have no choice but to keep up or get left behind.

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Observation #4: Harry Boettinger
Goaltender Harry Boettinger was acquired in the Caden Price trade, a deal that already looks like it might yield more than the Andrew Cristall trade did. He made the trek from Colorado and was on the ice right away. He visited Kelowna earlier in the summer and signed quickly, but both times the weather wasn’t ideal. Hopefully he gets a bit of lake time this weekend before focusing entirely on battling Jake Pilon for the number one job in net.

It’s only the first taste of camp, but the vibe feels different this year. New coaches, new voices, fresh energy. Add in some promising young leaders and a goaltending battle worth watching, and it’s safe to say the real fun has just begun.