Photo credit: Steve Dunsmoor

By Regan Bartel

Leaning on lessons from last season

Kalder Varga has bigger goals, with being drafted an added bonus

Sep 24, 2025 | 6:00 AM

For Kalder Varga, year two in the Western Hockey League is more than just another step in his development. It is his NHL Draft season, when every shift is tracked and every statistic is analyzed. For many 17-year-olds, that spotlight can feel overwhelming. Varga admits there is pressure, but he is focused on something bigger than draft lists.

“I know I’ll be watched a little more this year,” he said. “That’s exciting, but it’s not the main focus. The goal is to try and win a Memorial Cup, build a special group here, and hopefully lift that trophy in the end.”

That perspective is telling. While his name will appear on draft rankings, Varga does not want his identity tied to those numbers.

“You go into every game trying to help your team win and keep getting better as a group,” he explained. “There’s always noise around the draft, but you try to stay out of it and just keep to yourself.”

Still, he knows the lure of those prospect lists is real.

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“It’ll be tough not to look,” he admitted. “You want to see your name there.”

One summer moment gave him perspective. At a camp back home, he found himself next to longtime NHL star Patrick Marleau.

“I shook his hand and he gave me some advice on the draft year,” Varga said. “He told me it only takes one team. It doesn’t matter how many like you. You just need one fit, the right team for who you are as a person and player. That’s stuck with me.”

Advice also came from closer to home. His father, John, a fifth-round pick of the Washington Capitals in 1992, coached him through his minor hockey years.

“His message was always the same,” Varga said. “Play the right way. Don’t cheat the game. If you’re smart, they’ll notice your abilities. That’s been my style since I was a kid. Play hard, play honest, and don’t get cocky chasing points.”

Last season tested him. The Rockets struggled, and Varga experienced losing for the first time.

“Growing up, I was always on top teams,” he said. “I don’t think I had ever been outside the top five in the country. Last year was different, but it builds you. You learn to face adversity and ask yourself, ‘How can I become the best version of myself even in these circumstances?’ You just control the controllables.”

He still found growth in his rookie season. “I scored 10 goals and around 15 assists, but it wasn’t easy,” he said. “Sometimes you try to do too much, but hockey is a team game. Even off the ice, in the gym and in practice, I kept working to become a better version of myself.”

The summer brought a highlight when he won gold with Team USA at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

“That tournament was pretty special,” Varga said. “USA hadn’t won it since 2003, so it was crazy to think we did it. The whole focus was winning gold, and we did. Coming back to my age group after playing in the WHL, the game slowed down. You see how much more mature you are. I credit that to the coaching staff here for teaching me to play the right way and a full 200-foot game.”

That international success could springboard him toward another dream, the World Juniors.

“That would be incredible,” he said. “There’s a deep pool of players, but if I get that opportunity, I’m going to make the most of it.”

With the Memorial Cup coming to Kelowna in 2026, the long view is exciting, but Varga’s focus stays on the present.

“Never want to stop playing hockey,” he smiled. “It’s an obsession. There is a long way to May, but it will creep up fast. We’ve got to start now and go in tomorrow trying to win a game.”

He knows where his game needs to grow.

“For me, it’s forechecking, using my stick and quickness to win battles,” he said. “Once I have the puck in the offensive zone, I let my creativity take over. Last year was about being more physical and having the puck more so I could show my style and score goals.”

He studies players like Mitch Marner for inspiration.

“He’s undersized like me,” Varga explained. “You watch how he wins battles, gets the puck back, and then he’s magic with it. That’s a good comparison for me, both in size and style.”

Another focus is shooting the puck more.

“I’ve got to stop trying to make the perfect extra play,” he said. “The coaches have been on me to shoot. Even in preseason, I had a lot of shots, and it showed my game has taken a step. It’s going to be a fun year.”

For Kalder Varga, fun might be the best way to describe this season. Pressure? Sure. Expectations? Absolutely. But as he begins his draft year with the Rockets, the 17-year-old seems locked in on what matters most: winning games, developing his craft, and making the most of an opportunity that only comes once.