By Regan Bartel

Growth, Grit, Vision, Confidence

Rowan Guest: The Late-Bloomer Who Found His Edge

Dec 27, 2025 | 6:00 AM

If the Kelowna Rockets handed out a Most Improved Player award at the midway point of the season, Rowan Guest would be the runaway winner.

A year ago, the 19-year-old defenceman was still trying to find consistency in the Western Hockey League. The Rockets went through a difficult season, and like many young players, Guest’s game was hard to evaluate in the middle of it. This season, there’s no mistaking the progress.

The improvement is evident on the scoresheet, where Guest is contributing more offensively, but the most significant changes are in how he plays the game. He’s stronger on the puck, more assertive defensively, and noticeably more confident with every shift.

“I’m just trying to make good plays and help our guys,” Guest said. “When you keep things simple and move the puck to the right places, good things happen.”

Confidence has been the key. Guest admits it wasn’t always there last season, but it has grown as his role has expanded and trust has followed.

Rockets face road test in games 3 and 4

Goaltending, discipline and depth driving 2-0 series lead over Blazers

Mar 30, 2026

Rockets DOA. Dominate. Overcome. Achieve

Things that make me go hmm....

Feb 02, 2026

Too good to ignore, too hated to care

Kelowna Rockets: The team the Internet loves to hate

Jan 13, 2026

“That’s the biggest thing for me,” he said. “Having coaches who trust you and put you in those situations really helps.”

That trust was earned through work done away from the rink. Over the summer, Guest focused on getting bigger and stronger, arriving this season better prepared for the physical demands of the league.

“I grew a lot over the summer,” he said. “Not just as a player, but as a person. Having that year under your belt makes everything easier.”

The added strength has changed the way Guest plays and how opponents respond to him. He’s become more involved physically, willing to step in for teammates and add an edge that was largely absent from his game a season ago.

“Last year, I didn’t really have the strength,” Guest said. “This year, I do.”

One defining moment this season came on December 5th in Seattle. In a 5-3 road win over the Thunderbirds, Guest tussled with WHL fighting leader Brayden Holberton, who has 23 career fighting majors. Guest sent Holberton to the ice, only to see him later emerge from the dressing room with a full facial shield, a clear sign that Guest had made his mark. Entering the season, the 6’5 blueliner had two fighting majors. Two!

Once overlooked, the 19-year-old undrafted defenseman is now catching the attention of NHL scouts, and the late-bloomer is firmly on their radar.

“I just try to step up when I need to,” he said. “Play strong, play physical, and be reliable.”

As the Rockets reach the midpoint of the season, Guest’s growth stands as one of the clearest signs of progress within the lineup. He’s no longer a player trying to survive at the WHL level.

“I’m just going game by game, trying to make good plays and help the team.”

 Carson Wetsch: Captain on Fire

Carson Wetsch didn’t just produce on the Kelowna Rockets’ six-game, nine-night Eastern Division road trip. He led by example.

The 19-year-old captain finished as the team’s leading scorer with four goals and five assists for nine points, showing why he wears the “C.” 

Even after being passed over for Canada’s World Junior team this summer, Wetsch didn’t sulk. He stayed focused, driving offense and setting the tone every night.

“I’m surprised at how many goals we’ve been scoring,” Wetsch told RocketFAN. In three wins against Swift Current, Regina, and Saskatoon, the team scored 17 goals.

“Even with a couple of key guys out, it’s been really impressive.”

Wetsch leads the team with 12 road goals.

“When you’re feeling confident, you just feel like you’re in the zone,” he added. “You show up and you know you’re going to have a good night.”

Wetsch’s speed, willingness to attack the outside, and knack for creating chances made him a constant threat, while his steady play helped anchor a lineup missing key contributors. Even though he didn’t make Team Canada, he’ll still be following the tournament.

“Definitely want to see Canada get a win,” he said.

Owen Hayden: Through the yes of rookie giant 

Owen Hayden didn’t need a map to navigate the Kelowna Rockets’ pre-Christmas road trip through the prairies. But at 16, seeing Manitoba and Saskatchewan through fresh eyes made the journey feel new.

The rookie defenseman embraced the brisk prairie weather, noting it reminded him of home. “It’s definitely brisk out here, but it’s nice to get into some similar weather,” he said. A winter jacket, he added with a grin, was a necessity.

Hayden’s size – 6-foot-7 – made the long bus rides manageable, thanks to a secret weapon: a blow-up camping mattress.

“I lay the mattress out and it all kind of works out,” he said, describing how he balances comfort with sharing a seat with teammate Eli Barrett.

On the ice, Hayden soaked it all in.

“Being a rookie is fun. You have to enjoy it, right? First time in Regina, first time in Brandon… it’s cool to come to a rink and just say, wow, I get to play here.”

Facing skilled teams like Brandon, he relished the challenge.

“It was cool just to see how they played… different style of hockey compared to other teams.”

Hayden also felt the absence of veteran teammates Nate Corbet, Peyton Kettles, and Gabriel Guilbault.

“They’re really huge pieces when they’re in the lineup. It’s tough to see them out, but it’ll be awesome to have them back after Christmas. We’ve had to step up without them, and it’s been a good challenge,” he said.

Even as a rookie facing a tougher schedule and missing key teammates, Hayden approached every moment with optimism. Living life with a “cup half full” mentality, he saw every game as a learning experience.

“It’s been a lot of fun for sure,” he said, eyes wide with excitement.

Shane Smith: The white stick that commands attention

You notice it right away.

In a game where nearly every stick blends into the ice, Shane Smith’s doesn’t. It’s white. No tape tricks. No special build.

And no, it isn’t custom-made.

“It’s just spray paint,” Smith says. “Canadian Tire spray paint.”

That’s it. No superstition at the start. No grand plan. A few years ago, Smith wanted to try something different. He’d seen a handful of players around the WHL, and even in the NHL using white sticks, and figured he’d give it a go.

It stuck.

That season happened to be one of his best, and like most hockey players, Smith wasn’t about to tempt fate by changing anything. The white stick stayed, and it’s been part of his game ever since.

Across the league, only a small number of players use a fully white stick, which makes Smith’s stand out immediately. From the press box, it’s easy to track. From the stands, it’s unmistakable. On the ice, it’s become part of his identity.

There’s nothing magical about it, Smith insists. Same flex. Same curve. Same feel. The only difference is the colour.

But sometimes that’s enough.

In a sport built on routine and repetition, the smallest constants matter. 

It’s not special. It just works, and its on pace to find the back of the net 34 times this season.