Rockets land record-setting forward

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Rather than move the selection in a draft-day deal, Kelowna stayed put and chose the high-scoring forward from Red Deer.

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Daneault admitted the hours leading up to the pick were nerve-wracking.

“We had a lot of my buddies, a lot of my family and cousins out there,” Daneault said. “We put the draft on and just celebrated with them. It was awesome.”

The wait for the opening pick felt long enough.

“They were just talking and talking,” he laughed. “My friends and I were looking at each other like, ‘OK, let’s just get this going.’”

When Kelowna finally announced his name, emotion quickly took over.

“It was just so surreal,” Daneault said. “I definitely shed a happy tear.”

He says his mother was already crying before he even stood up from his chair.

“My mom was bawling her eyes out,” he said. “My brothers were crying for me, too and telling me how proud they were. That’s what I love about this family. We’re so tight.”

His phone exploded almost immediately afterward.

“It was nuts,” Daneault said. “I was just hearing buzz, buzz, buzz nonstop.”

The first overall pick says he quickly thanked the people closest to him, including his coach, before hearing from the Rockets organization.

“I gave my parents a huge hug first and then went right to my coach to thank him for the last two years,” he explained. “Then, coach (Derrick Martin) from Kelowna called me right away.”

Despite the spotlight that comes with being the top selection, Daneault remains grounded.

“Even if I went second, third or tenth round, it wouldn’t change anything,” he said. “I’d still get back in the gym and work hard. I just want to be the best player no matter where I go.”

Daneault put together one of the most dominant offensive seasons in recent memory with the Red Deer Rebels U-15 program, piling up 65 goals and 149 points in only 34 games.

But while the offence jumps off the page, he believes his game is more complete than just scoring.

“I like to throw my body around,” Daneault said. “I like to be good on the defensive side of the puck and then when I get opportunities, put the puck in the net.”

Growing up in Red Deer, Daneault says the WHL was always part of the dream. His older brother, Easton Daneault, played with the Lethbridge Hurricanes this past season, while his oldest brother, Ty also followed a high-level hockey path.

Now it’s Madden’s turn.

And if all goes according to plan, his first taste of life as a Rocket could come quickly.

Daneault says the organization has already talked about potentially bringing him to Kelowna during the 2026 Memorial Cup.

“That’d be a pretty awesome way to kick off my journey with the Rockets,” he said.