Hiroki Gojsic hitting his stride

Hiroki Gojsic has the bragging rights that no other teammate can touch. The 19-year-old forward not only reached the 150-game mark last Wednesday in the 6–1 win over Spokane, but he also leads all current Rockets forwards in games played with the organization since making his debut at the start of the 2023-24 season.

For a player who’s climbed his way through three WHL seasons, Gojsic is starting to look exactly like a veteran should. He’s on pace for a career-best 26 goals, which would top the 21 he scored two years ago. As a Nashville Predators prospect, this is the step forward people were expecting.

“It does feel a little weird,” Gojsic said when asked by RocketFAN about playing 150 regular-season games, all with the team that acquired him in a trade with the Victoria Royals in the summer of 2023. “Three years. Big three years.”

He’ll tell you himself that this season didn’t begin the way he wanted.

“At first, like five or ten games, I got off slow,” he said honestly. “After that, it picked up, and I’m just trying to do whatever I can to help the team win.”

The difference now, with six goals in his last eight games, is in how he’s playing and where he’s taking the puck.

“I’m just trying to get my feet moving as much as I can, play with pace, be physical, and play with my size. Those are my three keys to having success.”

A big push has been learning to attack the inside more, something both Nashville’s development staff and Rockets head coach Derrick Martin have drilled into him.

“I’ve worked a lot with Marty and all the player development guys in Nashville just to attack more on the inside so more of my skills come out and I can use my frame to my advantage.”

The team around him is shifting upward too, and Gojsic can feel that.

“Everyone’s super close,” he said. “We come with a fresh mindset and we know what’s on the table. Getting Smitty [Shane Smith] was huge. And Maz [Mazden Leslie] and Wetschy [Carson Wetsch], they’re all going to help us win games.”

He wasn’t surprised that the new additions fit in right away.

“I knew every single one of those guys that came in. I’ve played against them. They’re all pretty good players.”

Practices haven’t exactly been easy either, which is kind of the point.

“Everyone’s competing. Everyone’s working hard every single day. Everyone’s bringing it. Obviously it’ll make everybody on the team better.”

Even morning skates have a different feel.

“Everyone being crispy, everyone being dialed in… as Marty would say, attention to detail. It’s huge for a group.”

With all those changes, Gojsic has naturally stepped into a leadership role without having to say much.

“I try to lead on the ice, do all the right things, just working hard on the ice, trying to play the right way so everyone can follow through that.”

One of the tougher moments this season was when the Rockets traded his younger brother [Kanjyu] to the Edmonton Oil Kings. It wasn’t easy, but he understood why the move was made.

“He wasn’t playing that much. It’s a pretty good opportunity he has in Edmonton. Probably good for both parties. I’ve never played on a team without him. I’ve never played against him. It’s just kind of funny seeing my family cheering for both teams.”

And of course, the nickname. Goose. It wasn’t planned. It just stuck.

“Mally [Kris Mallette], my first year here. He’s like, ‘Goose, go.’ I didn’t move. I was like, ‘Goose, who’s Goose?’ Then he pokes me. Everyone’s like, ‘Yeah, Goose, go.’ It kind of just stuck from there.”

Now at 152 games, Gojsic looks like a player who knows exactly how to use his size, his experience, and his confidence to make an impact.

For a Rockets team starting to find its rhythm, he’s giving them exactly what they need at exactly the right moment as the head into the month of December.