GM believes Rockets still rising despite injuries

Despite those setbacks, the Rockets have quietly produced one of the WHL’s stronger records since the trade deadline, suffering just five regulation losses while integrating a wave of new players into the lineup.

For Hamilton, that record reflects a team that has managed to stay afloat while still figuring out exactly what it is.

“I think our team has gotten better as we go,” Hamilton said. “And I still believe our best days are ahead of us.”

The Rockets made significant moves at the WHL trade deadline in an effort to strengthen the roster for both the present and the future. But with new faces comes adjustment — something Hamilton says is still ongoing.

It’s not just systems that have to be learned.

Its roles.

“You bring in a lot of players who were the best players on their teams,” Hamilton said. “You’ve got egos and different expectations. Our coaching staff has done a really good job figuring out who’s responsible for what and making sure everyone’s hearing the same message.”

That message, according to Hamilton, is simple: the Rockets cannot rely on one player or one line to carry the offense.

There is no question who the lead offensive attraction is right now.

That would be Tij Iginla.

Hamilton calls the dynamic forward one of the most entertaining players in the league, a player fans can expect something special from every night.

But as the playoffs approach, opponents will increasingly key on him.

That means others must step forward.

“We can’t be a one-trick pony,” Hamilton said. “Tij can’t be the only guy scoring goals.”

Hamilton pointed to players like Shane Smith and Ty Halaburda as players who need to generate more offensive support.

Depth, he says, is critical.

“We need three lines that can contribute,” Hamilton explained. “And the fourth line has to be that energy line that creates a little chaos.”

While Hamilton believes the team improved significantly at the deadline, he admitted there is one move he might reconsider if given the chance.

Adding another defenseman.

The Rockets have been forced to lean heavily on younger players on the blue line, something Hamilton acknowledges can be difficult in pressure situations.

“You’re asking a lot of some young guys,” he said. “It would have been nice to have one more defenseman just to rotate and give us some more depth.”

Hamilton also pointed to veteran defenceman Mazden Leslie as a key piece on the back end — but one who must continue improving defensively as the games become more meaningful.

“Mazden brings a lot offensively,” Hamilton said. “But he’s got to be significantly better in our end of the rink for us to be successful.”

There is another challenge unique to this Rockets team.

As hosts of the 2026 Memorial Cup, Kelowna already has a guaranteed spot in the tournament.

That creates a potential trap — thinking too far ahead.

Hamilton says the organization is deliberately avoiding that.

“We’ve spent very little time talking about the Memorial Cup,” he said. “We’re trying to create an atmosphere where tomorrow’s game is the most important thing.”

The reason is simple.

Teams that wait too long between meaningful games can lose their rhythm.

“We don’t want to be sitting around for a month or six weeks waiting,” Hamilton said. “We want to be playing right up until it.”

Hamilton also believes some players will naturally elevate their play as the stakes increase.

“The older guys get more excited as we get closer,” he said. “The dog days are finishing up and the stretch run is on.”

That includes players like Czech import Vojtech Cihar, whom Hamilton believes still hasn’t shown his full potential.

Cihar began the season in the Czech professional league before signing in North America, meaning the transition has taken time.

“I don’t think we’ve seen the best of him yet,” Hamilton said. “But the bigger the games get, the better he’s going to be.”

When Hamilton constructed this roster, he had playoff hockey in mind.

That meant one key ingredient.

Size.

“We built this team to be big,” Hamilton said. “In the playoffs, size matters.”

But along with that physical edge must come discipline — something Hamilton admits remains a concern.

“If guys aren’t disciplined,” he said bluntly, “they’re not going to play.”

Ultimately, Hamilton isn’t shy about the expectations.

“We’re in it to win it,” he said.

A deep playoff run would energize the fan base and build momentum toward the Memorial Cup on home ice.

And Hamilton believes the pieces are in place if the team continues evolving.

“We’re a better hockey club than we were at the trade deadline,” he said.

Now the goal is to prove it when the games matter most.

by Regan Bartel

GM believes Rockets still rising despite injuries

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