Kelowna shut out, eliminated by familiar foe

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In total, the Rockets lost nine of 10 meetings against Everett this season.

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For a Kelowna team built to contend during its Memorial Cup hosting year, the ending was painful but impossible to ignore. The Rockets scored just two goals in three tournament games and were shut out when the stakes were at their highest.

“I thought the start was good from both teams,” Rockets head coach Derrick Martin said afterward. “I thought the backbreaker was the second goal. I think it took something out of our group.”

Everett’s defensive structure and elite goaltending again frustrated the Rockets, much like it did in the playoffs. Silvertips goaltender Andres Miller was outstanding throughout the second-round playoff series between the two clubs, posting a sparkling 1.82 goals-against average in Everett’s five-game series victory.

He was just as sharp on Wednesday.

Kelowna generated chances early, but failed to truly test Miller consistently through the final 40 minutes.

“If goals cost a dollar, we brought 75 cents to the rink with us tonight,” Martin said. “Props to them [Everett]. I thought they played a good game.”

The Rockets entered the Memorial Cup hoping their high-end talent would break through offensively. Instead, their biggest stars found little room against the tournament’s top defensive teams.

Czech forward Vojtech Cihar, one of Kelowna’s most dangerous offensive weapons during the regular season and playoffs, was held pointless in all three Memorial Cup games.

Tij Iginla, the Rockets’ leading scorer and emotional heartbeat, was also unable to carry the offensive load on his own despite battling throughout the tournament. The 19-year-old forward, who is expected to play in the NHL next season with the Utah Mammoth organization, played his final junior game Wednesday night.

Afterward, the disappointment was written across his face.

“Obviously, it sucks to have an opportunity as we did and not get more out of it,” Iginla said. “But like Carson [Wetsch] said, I thought we had a great room. I thought we were a tight-knit group of guys, and unfortunately, we’re not going to come out of it with a championship, but I think we’ll have a lot of friends for life.”

Iginla admitted the tournament loss will stay with him for a long time.

“For me, just not making the most of the opportunity that I had,” he said quietly. “I think that’ll be something that gives me motivation for a while.”

The same emotions were shared by Captain Carson Wetsch, who also played his final game in a Rockets uniform.

The power forward arrived in Kelowna, understanding the expectations that come with wearing one of the WHL’s most recognizable jerseys. By the end of the season, he fully understood what the organization meant to the city and its players.

“When I first got traded here, all I heard about was the history and the legacy and everything,” Wetsch said. “After playing a whole year here, the pride that I had every time I got to put on a Kelowna Rockets jersey was unbelievable.”

For Wetsch, the memories that mattered most were built away from the spotlight.

“This was definitely one of the best years of junior hockey I’ve ever had in my life,” he said. “And it wasn’t because of what happened on the ice. It was because of the guys who were in the room. Every single guy to a T was like family.”

The Rockets attempted to change the momentum midway through the game after Everett scored its third goal early in the second period. Martin replaced starting goaltender Josh Banini, not because he blamed the netminder, but because he hoped it might spark the bench.

“It was more from a momentum standpoint than it was the result of Josh,” Martin explained. “He’s played so many good games for us as of late.”

But the comeback never materialized.

Everett’s depth, speed and defensive commitment once again overwhelmed Kelowna, much like it had throughout the year. The Silvertips now advance to Friday’s Memorial Cup semifinal against the Chicoutimi Sagueneens. The winner will face the OHL champion Kitchener Rangers in Sunday’s final.

Despite the disappointment of a 0-and-3 tournament record, Martin refused to let the final score define his team’s season.

The Rockets won 38 games during the regular season and pushed all-in during their hosting year, making major trades to strengthen the roster for a Memorial Cup run. While the championship dream fell short, Martin said the resilience of the group is what he will remember most.

“Winning is hard. It’s a really hard thing to do,” Martin said. “You remember something unique from every team you coach, and I just thought the resiliency of this group.”

The Rockets coach pointed to the major changes the organization underwent over the last year and how the leadership core managed to keep the dressing room connected.

“When you have that much change, to be able to pull guys in and make them a part of that family, I thought they did an outstanding job,” Martin said.

Then came the comment that perhaps best summarized the 2025-26 Kelowna Rockets.

“I’ve been on the bench with teams that have shut it down at 2-0 or 3-0,” Martin said. “I thought the one thing people can’t say about the Kelowna Rockets is they quit.”

In the end, though, the season ended against the one opponent they simply could not solve.