Photo credit: RocketFAN

By Regan Bartel

Acquired in the Andrew Cristall trade

Hayden Paupanekis: Pushing the pace with new teammates

Jan 10, 2025 | 6:00 AM

Madison Bowey, Duncan Keith, Zach Franko, Ian Duval, Michael Cicek, Kirt Hill, Jesse Paradis, and Chris Di Ubaldo. What do all eight Kelowna Rockets alumni have in common? They all hail from the city of Winnipeg, Manitoba. Joining that list is newly acquired forward Hayden Paupanekis. 

The 17-year-old was acquired in a WHL trade on Wednesday from the Spokane Chiefs. The Rockets received the 6’4 forward along with five bantam prospect picks, including two first-round selections, in exchange for Andrew Cristall. 

“The news of being traded came out of nowhere,” Paupanekis admitted before practicing Thursday with his new teammates. “I am happy to be here, and super excited about what this team is going to do in the future.” 

Paupanekis was originally selected in the third round of the 2022 WHL Prospects Draft, a draft where the Rockets didn’t have a pick in the first three rounds before selecting Jaxon Kehrig in the fourth round. 

“I bring a lot of size,” Paupanekis said without hesitation. “I bring skill. I am able to find my teammates. I am a team guy. I am a team-first kind of guy. We are brothers now; these are my new brothers, and I want to do whatever it takes to help these guys win.” 

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With 11 goals and 24 points in 39 games this season, Paupanekis has one more goal and four more points than he had in his rookie season. Additionally, he is riding a five-game point streak heading into his Kelowna Rockets debut tonight against the Prince George Cougars (104-7 The Lizard has the pre-game show at 6:35 pm), with goals in four of his last five games. 

“Despite growing up in Winnipeg, I am a Leafs fan,” he said with a grin. “I like the skill level of Auston Matthews. I try to look at his gameplay and take some notes from him, trying to be as good as him.” 

In his junior career, Paupanekis played on a Spokane Chiefs team that finished in the 8th and final playoff spot in the Western Conference last season. Despite the team’s struggles, Paupanekis had the opportunity to play alongside Berkley Catton, who was selected in the first round of the NHL draft by the Seattle Kraken. 

“He is an amazing player,” Paupanekis said with a smile. “He’s all over the ice, so it’s hard to keep up with him, but he’s super skilled, super fast, and one of the smartest players I’ve ever played with. He’s unreal.” 

Walking into a new dressing room can be intimidating, especially one filled with unfamiliar faces. However, Paupanekis found a face he recognized. 

“Michael Cicek was in Spokane,” he said. “I was billeting with him when I was 15, during the pre-season. I’m looking forward to playing with him. He’s a great guy, and I want to get to know everyone better.” 

And of course, we had to ask him about his last name. Paupanekis has the longest last name on the team, at 11 letters. How do you pronounce it, and is there a special meaning behind it? 

“My dad is Indigenous,” he explained. “A lot of people think it’s Greek because it sounds that way. 

“You say it pa-pan-a-kiss, but a lot of people call me Paupi.”