Photo credit: Kelowna Rockets

By Regan Bartel

Big body, big talent, big impact

Rockets sign their #1 import pick

Aug 19, 2025 | 11:13 AM

The Kelowna Rockets have signed forward Tomas Poletin, the team’s first overall pick in the 2025 CHL Import Draft.

Poletin, 18, is from Praha, Czechia. The 6’1”, 205-pound forward was drafted by the New York Islanders in the fourth round of the 2025 NHL Draft.

Last season, he played in Finland with the Pelicans program, scoring 13 goals and 20 points in 25 games at the U20 level. He also appeared in 15 pro games in the Finnish Liiga and Champions Hockey League.

Regan’s Take: This is a nice get for the Rockets — another player who should bring some much-needed offense. A fourth-round pick of the New York Islanders, Poletin is just the second player in franchise history to have his NHL rights owned by that organization. The only other? Blake Comeau, selected by the Islanders in the second round of the 2004 draft. So, let’s step back for a moment. The Rockets have added Carson Wetsch, Mazden Leslie, and Harry Boettinger through trades, and now Poletin joins the mix. That’s two forwards, a defenseman, and a goalie added in short order. Factor in the likely return of Tij Iginla, and this team is shaping up very nicely for its Memorial Cup hosting season.

On the international stage, Poletin captained Czechia’s U18 team at the 2025 World Championship and helped his country win silver at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup.

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He was recently named to Czechia’s roster for the upcoming Under-20 Five Nations Tournament, August 27–31.

Poletin will join the Rockets after the Islanders main camp and is expected to be in the lineup for the home opener on September 19 against Spokane.