(Image Credit: Kohen Dengler)

By Regan Bartel

From Rockets to NHL

Damon Severson returns to Prospera Place during Olympic break

Feb 13, 2026 | 6:01 AM

Damon Severson returned to Prospera Place this week during the NHL’s Olympic break, taking the ice with the Kelowna Rockets, the team where his journey began. He practiced with the Rockets on Tuesday and Thursday and watched Wednesday’s game from the stands.

“It’s a lot of fun to be back, old building. Obviously, Memorial Cup year is a huge year, so I’m excited for these guys. It’s just nice to be able to skate with them.”

Severson remembers when he laced up with the Rockets from 2010 to 2014 and how he, too, had the privilege of skating alongside NHL players.

“It was a lockout year (2012-2013). I think it was my second or third year, but it was a lockout year, and we had some guys that were kicking around, just unsure of when the NHL was going to fire back up, so it worked out well.

They taught us a thing or two back then, and it just goes to show that it’s always fun having the guys who are in the best league in the world out to skate with you. I’m really appreciative of that. Figured the least I could do is return the favour now.”

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As Severson moves across Prospera Place, it’s clear just how explosive and smooth a skater he is. It has always been a strength of his game, even as a budding prospect for the New Jersey Devils, who chose him in the second round of the 2012 NHL Draft. But it has also been a work in progress.

“I will say a lot was God-given for sure. I’m fortunate to be naturally gifted with the way I’m built and my skating ability, but I did work at it quite a bit too, just over the years, growing up and coming through the Kelowna system. They had skating coaches, they had people who were willing to work with you, no matter what the situation may be.”

Severson admits he has also been an observer of some of the best skaters at the NHL level, and has incorporated some of those techniques into his game.

“Then the NHL obviously, professional hockey’s the best for a reason, and it’s been great getting a chance to watch some elite skaters who I’ve played with, played against, and try to emulate that stuff in the offseason and during the season practices. Yeah, it’s something I work at a lot, but still a long way to go to keep up with the pace of the NHL these days.”

Severson’s best year in junior came as a 19-year-old, when he scored a career-high 15 goals and collected 61 points in 64 games, earning Rockets defenseman of the year honours.

“I remember my last couple of years more than my first couple because it was a blur the first few. I come from a small town in Saskatchewan, just not really leaving my area too much and coming out here, travelling. I think it was the first time I’d ever been across the border to the States to play.

My first year, second year, obviously my draft year, so I was focused heavily on hockey that year. Then the next two years were just developing and getting better, but last year was a lot of fun.”

That 2013-14 Rockets team, under then-head coach Ryan Huska, won 57 games and lost only 11. Severson, a Melville native born in Brandon, Manitoba, finished third in team scoring.

“We had a really good team. I had some great teammates, so a lot of good buddies off that team, and we played really well. Unfortunately we didn’t go all the way, but we were close, and then the next year they followed it up with a big year there.”

When asked what advice he would give to the younger players on the Rockets roster, Severson was thoughtful.

“Well, they’re very lucky, obviously being the host of the Memorial Cup. They know they’re in, but the only advice I would have is just earn your way in. I know they’re kind of in the middle of the standings right now, and they’re looking to go on a run. I chatted with a few guys in the room. They said, ‘We’re going to get hot here, we’re going to go on a run, we’re going to start playing some good hockey down the stretch,’ and I think their season ends like middle of March and then playoff time.”

The Rockets enter the weekend in fourth place in the Western Conference, one point back of third-place Prince George Cougars.

“You want to earn your way in,” Severson emphasized. “You want to prove that you should be the host for a reason, and these guys have a lot of good players. I watched the game on Wednesday, and it’s just so much fun. Junior hockey’s a lot of fun because you don’t really have much to worry about. Everything’s taken care of. You don’t have to be an adult quite yet, so just try to enjoy it as much as you can.

And as I said, they’re very fortunate they’re hosting this year, so just take it all in and try to win it.”

Severson has two teammates with the Blue Jackets playing at the Olympics. Zach Werenski is suiting up for Team USA while goalie Elvis Merzlikins represents Team Latvia.

“Going into the second half of the season or after the Olympic break, from an NHL’s perspective, it’s going to be tough. There’s been a whole lot of guys playing through injuries this year already, and with the Olympics, you feel for the guys who have been banged up and had to miss the Olympics or are going to come back and be banged up.

There’s going to be some ups and downs for sure, some highs and lows. Playing at the Olympics has got to be the highest high there is, so credit to those guys who are going to go over there and hopefully put on a good show for everybody.

Coming back, it’s going to be difficult because there’s going to be a little bit of a drop off. It’s just going to be about maintaining, staying healthy, trying to just do the right things.”

Once the NHL schedule resumes, the Blue Jackets have 25 games in 47 days to finish the regular season.

“I don’t think there are going to be many practices for a lot of teams, just because we’re playing every second day,” Severson added. “It’s going to be more morning skates, just getting the feel for the puck again and getting in the rhythm.

“It’ll be difficult, but the grind has to be embraced, and hopefully we’re a team that can get in the playoffs.”