Photo credit: Steve Dunsmoor

By Regan Bartel

Back from injury tougher than ever

From injury bug to fight night: Nate Corbet returns

Jan 20, 2026 | 6:00 AM

Nate Corbet knows what it’s like to be in the lineup every night.

The WHL only plays 68 games in a season, but because Corbet played games with Medicine Hat before being traded to Kelowna last season, he ended up dressing in more games than anyone in the league. That kind of consistency became part of who he is as a player. So when he got hurt in Spokane and missed 17 straight games, it was a major change.

“It can be tough,” Corbet told RocketFAN after playing his first home game last Friday against the visiting Calgary Hitmen. “Obviously, when you’re injured, you’re not on the regular schedule with all the other guys. At times, it was a bit lonely, but not entirely; you’re isolated to some extent. That part can be hard.”

He finally returned to the Rockets lineup not this past Saturday, but the Saturday prior, when the Rockets played the Portland Winterhawks. It was a long road back, and it took patience and careful planning.

“I made a conscious effort to really check in with how I was feeling every day,” Corbet said. “Shooting pain, aching pain, what area, what muscles — stuff like that. Me and Scotty (Athletic Therapist Scott Hoyer) worked a lot together. Just the communication aspect was huge.”

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That communication helped him decide when he was truly ready.

“Was it structural damage or was it just pain you can kind of push through and manage?” he said. “Once we figured that out, that’s when we knew it was time. And now, yeah, I’m back.”

Corbet has been through serious injury before. He once had his Achilles cut by a skate, an injury he doesn’t like talking about, but one that taught him a lot.

“It was the same sort of thing,” he said. “Just that mentality of getting one percent better every day. That never really changes.”

While Corbet was out, the Rockets added two new defensemen: Keith McInnis and Parker Alcos. Their arrival made the team stronger, and it also changed the defense lineup.

Corbet doesn’t see that as a negative. He sees it as a sign the team is getting better.

“It’s exciting,” he said. “They’re both great two-way players. It just adds more depth to our back end and more confidence. We can win games not just by outscoring teams, but by defending as well.”

Corbet thinks the team is better now than before the trade deadline.

“We made some big improvements,” he said. “It’s always tough to see guys go, but we know they’re getting opportunities elsewhere. And the guys that came in, they defend above the puck, they play the right way. If you want to win championships, that’s what you need.”

If anyone doubted Corbet’s recovery, they got their answer Saturday night at Prospera Place. In the first period against the Prince George Cougars, Corbet fought Cougar defenseman Corbin Vaughan, his eighth fighting major of the season.

It wasn’t planned, but it was a clear sign he was back to full strength.

“That physical, shutdown presence,  that’s my identity,” Corbet said. “I’m not afraid to bring offense either, but I’ve got to keep doing what I do best.”

Corbet also brings leadership in the locker room. He’s known as someone who keeps things positive and helps new players feel welcome.

“I don’t think my role changes too much,” he said. “Just making sure guys feel welcome, staying positive. All the new guys are great guys, so it’s not hard.”

Last season, the Rockets struggled to win games. This season is different, and Corbet says that matters to everyone.

“Winning is everything,” he said. “It’s what you do in the gym, in the offseason, in practice , all of it. It’s not just about better players. We’re a harder-working team now. We’re more detailed.”

After weeks of watching, he’s finally back where he wants to be, part of a team that believes it can win.