Photo credit: Steve Dunsmoor

By Regan Bartel

Power-play practice makes perfect

Rockets turn special teams into a weapon

Nov 3, 2025 | 6:00 AM

Two games in thirteen days might seem like a lot of downtime, but for the Kelowna Rockets, the stretch has been a rare chance to reset and refine a power play that has struggled early in the season. Head coach Derek Martin has embraced the extra practice time, knowing the team needs both repetition and chemistry to succeed.

“You always love practice time. You get to work on a lot of things,” Martin said, adding that for the players, “these guys are thoroughbreds. They want to play games. The best way to practice is still under pressure in a real-life scenario.”

The Rockets have focused on special teams during this window, giving players a chance to work together on timing and familiarity, while also sharpening the penalty kill.

Early-season power plays can be unpredictable.

“Some teams storm out of the gates with really strong power plays and then they fizzle out,” he added. “Some guys limp in early and then get going. Some never find their footing. There’s no secret science to it.”

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The Rockets’ roster includes proven specialists like Mazden Leslie on the back end and Tij Iginla and Carson Wetsch up front, all of whom have built careers on power play production. That unit struck twice in Saturday night’s 5-2 road win against the Vancouver Giants.

“It’s just a matter of them getting on the same page and learning how to execute plays,” Martin said.

Input from experienced players is valued, but Martin keeps final authority.

“I think it’s important for them to have some say in what ingredients you’re buying at the grocery store. But they don’t get to dictate what supper’s gonna be. They’re smart players for a reason,” he said. “If you ignore their experience, you kind of stunt your own growth as a coach.” Shared ownership between players and staff has become a cornerstone of the Rockets’ approach this season.

Martin’s philosophy balances speed and precision.

“You play too slow and you never get inside. You can waste two minutes pretty quickly. At the same time, you don’t want to rush through things and not allow guys the opportunity to get to their spots,” he said.

Big bodies like Wetsch, Kayden Longley, and Dawson Gerwing near the crease create opportunities for second-chance goals, and Martin is confident the Rockets can capitalize.

The first power play unit is stacked with skill, while the second unit takes a shoot-first approach.

“When they’re going, they’re really dangerous. The problem with a lot of skill is sometimes it can go individual. We’re still working out the kinks, but they’re called the number one power play unit for a reason,” Martin said. “At the same time, our second group is a shoot-first unit. We’re confident in both.”

Expectations are high.

“I think it’s fair if somebody says we should have a top-five power play,” Martin said. “I haven’t loved our start, but to cut them some slack, we’ve had some new faces. It’s not that we expect them to score every time, but we expect them to get us momentum every time they’re over, and that’s a fair ask.”

The Rockets now have time to gel, and Martin believes the team’s skill and preparation can turn special teams into a difference maker.

“The Hamilton’s have armed us with more than enough ammo to have successful power play units. It’s time to start taking advantage of that,” he said.