‘This team can go anywhere’ – Rockets’ GM Bruce Hamilton

If they lose the bid, you would have to think long and hard about going for it all – now – with Andrew Cristall, Caden Price and possibly Tij Iginla playing their final seasons of junior hockey.

“I want to win every year,” Hamilton told RocketFAN. “I have been doing this a long time, and if you have a window, you better jump through it. We think we are in a window over the next few years, and I want to make sure I do all I can to win.”

While it may seem like an odd statement, much hinges on the development of the teams younger, unproven players. Are rookies Kalder Varga and Kanjyu Gojsic going to make an impact in year one? Will d-man Jacob Henderson do the same despite being just 16 years old? Will 17-year-old rookie Levi Benson be able to contribute now, or will it take a full-season for all four to find their game?

“We need to bring a championship back to this city,” Hamilton added. “The sooner the better as far is I am concerned.”

The franchise hasn’t hung a red banner high into the rafters at Prospera Place since the 2017-2018 season, when it won 43 times and earned 93 points, which was nine points better than second place Victoria in the BC Division.

“[Owen] Folstrom, [Kalder] Varga,[Kanju] Gojsic and [Jacob] Henderson on defense have all earned a spot, and they are going to start the year with us. They all have to play 40 games, and that is going to be the challenge for them understanding that they are used to playing all the time, but now they are going to get rotated in and out.”

Folstrom had a cup of coffee with the big team a season ago. The Calgary resident dressed for three games on a Saskatchewan road trip in December and showed zero fear and a lot of finesse.

“I believe by Christmas, all four will push some of the guys that have been here for a while,” Hamilton added. “All four are extremely talented players, and in particular the three forwards are going to be a handful every time they go out on the ice.”

Varga is the baby of the bunch. The first pick (7th overall) in the 2023 U.S Priority Draft turned 16 on June 24th, which is essentially three months younger than Folstrom, 103 days later than Henderson, and a full 165 days later than Gojsic, with the two chosen 48th and 50th in the third round of the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft.

“I think our offense will be good,” Hamilton suggested. “We have eight of nine guys on defense that think they can play all the time, which is going to be a challenge. I think we will be good offensively and I really, really believe that [Jari] Kykkanen is going to have a great year, and [Jake] Pilon is going to get games too and will be excellent.”

Kykannen is back for his 20-year-old season, following in the footsteps of others who had success in their overage season, including Jordon Cooke, who was named the CHL Goaltender of the Year in his final season of junior eligibility.

“If you go back to the first half of last year, our goaltending was a problem and it struggled,” Hamilton not mincing words. “Down the stretch, Jari was one of the best goalies in our league, and he is fully committed to the plan. I know Eli Wilson [goaltending coach] spent a lot of time with him this summer, so I am very confident that he will be one of the better ones in our league.”

At this time of the year, everyone is undefeated and believe – rightfully or wrongly – they have as good a shot as any at winning the league title.

“Getting into the second round [of playoffs] last year, we needed that,” Hamilton said. “Since the Memorial Cup was cancelled in 2020, we never really got out of second gear, and finally last year we got going towards the end of the year.

“Points early in the year are going to be pivotal. This team can go anywhere.”

by Regan Bartel

‘This team can go anywhere’ – Rockets’ GM Bruce Hamilton

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