Photo credit: Steve Dunsmoor

By Regan Bartel

Taking it one save at a time

On the road with Josh Banini

Dec 5, 2025 | 6:00 AM

The Kelowna Rockets open a seven-game road trip tonight in Seattle against the Thunderbirds, and they’re ready to hit the ice running. From the Pacific Northwest to the prairies, the Rockets have been bouncing from rink to rink, chasing points and building momentum wherever they go.

For goalie Josh Banini, life on the road isn’t just about stopping pucks. It’s about staying focused, keeping a rhythm and doing it all for the guys in the room and the fans who cheer every night.

“I play for the guys in the room and for the fans in the stands. It’s all bigger than yourself,” Banini told RocketFAN.

That pretty much sums him up. He isn’t chasing personal stats or highlights. Every save every shift every game is about helping his teammates and keeping the Rockets in the fight.

Banini has already seen a lot of arenas this season, and the road has been a learning experience.

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“It’s cool to see all the different rinks and the energy these fans bring. So far in the States it’s been pretty cool to see the different culture they have here,” he said.

American fans are loud and passionate and that can be overwhelming for some. For Banini it’s the opposite.

“I wouldn’t say it’s intimidating at all. Our guys feed off it and I feed off it too. More energy in the game just makes it more exciting to play.”

Even in smaller Canadian towns a crowd can change a game. Banini points to Moose Jaw where he spent time with the Warriors and even won a fan favorite award.

“Playing in that building is special. Some nights it’s bumping some nights quieter but the fans care about hockey like nowhere else. When people are in the stands it gets rowdy,” he said.

Being a goalie isn’t just physical it’s mental. Long bus rides late nights and back-to-back games can wear on you. Banini keeps a routine to stay centered. After a tough loss he’ll break down the tape see what he could have done better then move on to the next challenge.

“It hurts for sure but I try not to let it linger. You have to flip the page quick in a league like this,” he said.

Playing alongside another talented goalie adds another layer. With starts shared between him and Harrison Boettiger finding a rhythm can be tricky.

“It hasn’t been many starts in a row for me but it’s all about mindset. I watch Harry see what he does well and try to pick up what I can while building my own game. At the end of the day we’re here to win. Whoever’s playing you support the other guy and when it’s your turn you show your stuff,” he said.

Life on the road isn’t just about games it’s about the locker room and the personalities that keep a team ticking. Banini’s roommate Nate Corbet is one of those guys.

“He’s super funny and keeps things light. One of the most competitive people I’ve been around but he’s always making people laugh off the ice,” Banini said.

His approach is simple focus on what he can control. Numbers like goals against average or save percentage matter but they don’t drive him.

“I’m just focused on getting better every day. Take it one day at a time keep improving and things will work out,” he said.

Family and support matter but the focus always stays on the team.

“It doesn’t matter if your family’s in the stands or not. You still play for your team. You want to leave it all out there every night.”

As the Rockets get ready for a Saskatchewan road trip where Banini will see arenas he knows well from his time with Moose Jaw he’s pumped.

“It’s exciting to go back see the fans and just play the game. Every arena is different every crowd is different but the puck is the same the net is the same and my job is the same,” he said.

For Josh Banini the road isn’t just miles and games. It’s focus resilience and teamwork. Every save matters every game counts and every night is about playing for the guys in the room and the fans in the stands.

“It’s all a mindset of just being a part of your family which is in the locker room,” he said.