Photo credit: Steve Dunsmoor

By Regan Bartel

Growing up with the NHL's youngest stars

Carson Wetsch knows greatness

Nov 21, 2025 | 6:00 AM

Carson Wetsch has played a lot of hockey in a short time, but not many guys his age can say they grew up with two of the best young players in the NHL. So when San Jose Sharks 19-year-old Macklin Celebrini (30 points) and Chicago’s Connor Bedard (29 points) rip apart the league every night, the Kelowna Rockets captain watches with a different kind of appreciation.

“Both of them are from North Vancouver, so I grew up playing with them on open ice or actually on the team,” Wetsch told RocketFAN after practice last week. “I’ve known Celebrini since I was about 5 years old and played on his team constantly until he moved away to San Jose when he was 13 or 14, and then went to Shattuck or whatever. I’ve known those two for a while, and even at that young age, you knew they were going to be something special and that they were going to go far. It’s crazy to see how special they have become.”

For Wetsch, Celebrini is the one he knows best—not only from his youth, but also because he, too, is a draft pick of the San Jose Sharks.

“He’s a treat to watch. It’s actually ridiculous. Every time he’s on the ice, he makes something happen. It’s crazy.”

And even though they’re very different players, Wetsch says there’s still plenty he steals from the elite-level guys he’s grown up around.

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“I love watching guys like that. You can learn so much from those types of players, especially because their skill sets are different from yours. You can try to bring that stuff in and implement it into your game, and it’ll help you become more of a complete player.”

It fits neatly with how he sees himself.

“My biggest strength as a hockey player is my versatility and being able to do anything on the ice and be anything. So taking things from all players and learning is the best for me.”

As the Rockets continue a three-game homestand tonight hosting the Everett Silvertips at Prospera Place for the second time in five days, after losing to them 3-2 in overtime last Sunday in Everett, Wetsch sits in a good spot. He’s had to lead, adapt, and settle a dressing room that suddenly has new faces walking in almost every week.

“We’re trending in the right direction. You can see it every practice and every day. It’s just about getting better, and I see that every day here. Every game we’re just getting slowly better and better and improving little details. Definitely seeing a lot of brilliance out there.”

Even with all the roster movement, he says it’s not hard to bring new guys into the mix.

“The guys that are coming in are so talented, so it’s kind of easy for them to adjust to your system. They fit right in. I don’t think you take a step back at all. I think you almost take a step forward just because of how skilled they are and what they bring to the team.”

Being captain comes with a few added responsibilities, but he doesn’t act like the sheriff of the room.

“Everyone here is super welcoming. I do take it upon myself to maybe go a little extra introducing myself or sending a text. Every guy here introduced himself and said hi to all the new guys, so everyone was super welcoming.”

Wetsch’s appreciation for players grows even more when he sees them daily, like former rival Shane Smith, who he battled nonstop last year when Wetsch was a Calgary Hitmen forward and Smith was in Lethbridge.

“Now I love him, but when we played against each other, no, me and him would just go at it all the time. Now he’s my teammate and I love the guy. I’d do anything for him.”

Smith gives the Rockets exactly what Kelowna fans expected.

“I think he’s just a complete player. He’s going to be great. He’s going to finish his hits. Guy can put the puck in the back of the net. He can make good plays. You can expect him to be all over the ice and involved in every play.”

And Wetsch says having an overager that is focused is huge.

“Overagers bring so much experience to the game, and they have so much knowledge they can pass on, even to myself. Having a guy with that much focus who wants something that bad, it’s pretty dangerous out there for them.”

Standings, hype, who’s hot and who’s not – none of that is grabbing his attention this season.

“I try to stay off that stuff. I think it’s helped. The worst thing you can do is compare. I’m just trying to focus on our team and how we can improve every day and focus on myself.”

But the best part of his year? His own start.

“I think this is one of the best starts I’ve had in my whole career. Things are clicking. My teammates are helping me a lot with that. I’m just starting to find my way here.”

“He’d be right. Wetsch has already tallied 18 points in 16 games this season, compared to just 10 points through the same span last year with the Hitmen.