Rockets eye tough roster decisions

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One of the biggest additions came in the CHL Import Draft when Kelowna selected Czech forward Jacob Frolo.

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Hamilton says the expectation is the 18-year-old will be wearing a Rockets jersey this season.

“I don’t anticipate any hiccups there,” Hamilton said. “We’re just waiting to get the paperwork finished up, but he’ll be coming over this year.”

The Rockets had Frolo on their radar well before this year’s import draft. His versatility became even more appealing after several veteran forwards moved on.

“With some of our older forwards moving on, we wanted to add a player that’s played center but can also play the wing,” Hamilton said.

While Frolo has shown he can score, Hamilton believes his biggest strength is making the players around him better.

“He’s probably a little more of a playmaker than a scorer,” Hamilton said. “But he can score as well.”

He also brings another element the Rockets like.

An edge.

Frolo led Finland’s Under-20 league in penalty minutes last season, proving he’s willing to play with some bite.

“I think we like that,” Hamilton said. “We’re excited to get him over here and see what he can do.”

If everything goes according to plan, the Rockets could ice three European players this season. Frolo would join Los Angeles Kings second-round pick Vojtěch Čihař and New York Islanders fourth-round selection Tomáš Poletín, giving Kelowna an experienced international trio.

Hamilton says changing roster dynamics around the WHL have made experienced European players even more valuable, particularly as teams continue adjusting to the NCAA landscape and veteran roster turnover.

“It’ll be interesting to see what kind of impact those guys have on the league,” Hamilton said.

While new players are arriving, a couple of familiar faces won’t be returning.

Hamilton says neither departure caught the organization off guard.

Veteran d-man Parker Alcos, now 20, had made it clear that moving on (NCAA-Quinnipiac Bobcats) was the direction he wanted to take.

“If that’s the path he wants to take, then that’s the path,” Hamilton said.

The same goes for Keith McInnes, who would have been a solid overage option.

College hockey had long been part of McInnes’ plans, something Hamilton says was understood even before he arrived in the WHL.

“As much as we’d like both of those guys back, they’re moving on,” Hamilton said. “We wish them all the best. They’re both great players and great humans.”

Perhaps the most intriguing storyline heading into training camp involves the Rockets’ overage players.

Only three 20-year-olds can remain on the roster when the regular season begins, meaning several veterans will be competing for those coveted spots.

Training camp will determine who earns those final roster positions.

“We’re going to start with the guys that come to camp and give everyone an opportunity to earn a spot on the team,” Hamilton said.

For those who don’t make Kelowna’s roster, the hope is they’ve shown enough to continue their WHL careers elsewhere.

“If you’re not going to be on our team, then hopefully you’ve played well enough to earn a spot somewhere else in the Western League,” Hamilton said.

The situation has become more complicated across the league as teams continue adapting to changing player movement.

“It’s a little weird now,” Hamilton admitted. “Teams are trying to figure out if they want a 20-year-old or if they want to go with younger players.”

Fortunately, Hamilton believes the Rockets are in a good position.

“We know we’ll get three good ones,” he said. “We’re fortunate. Some other teams are still looking.”

The battle for those jobs won’t be easy. Six players are vying for those spots. Goaltender Josh Banini, defenceman Rowan Guest, forwards Hiroki Gojsic, Connor Pankratz, Dawson Gerwing and Nate Corbet are all in the mix.

One player who won’t be returning is defenceman Owen Hayden.

The Rockets dealt the 16-year-old to the Seattle Thunderbirds this summer after Hayden and his family decided a different opportunity would be best for his development.

“I think for Owen, and probably more so his family and himself, they were looking for a different opportunity or more of an opportunity than what was given to him this year,” Hamilton said.

Hayden’s rookie season never really got off the ground after suffering a hamstring injury at Hockey Canada’s Under-17 camp before training camp.

“He had an untimely hamstring injury that he suffered at U17 camp in the summer, so he missed a bit of time to start the year,” Hamilton said.

Hamilton believes the 6-foot-6 blueliner made strides despite the difficult circumstances.

“Sixteen-year-old defencemen in this league, it’s tough,” Hamilton said. “He’s a big guy, and he’s still got a lot of road ahead of him here, but he’s a good player.”

Despite the trade, Hamilton had nothing but positive things to say about Hayden.

“Owen himself is a tremendous young man,” Hamilton said. “I just hope things work out the way he wants them to in Seattle.”

Check back to RocketFAN for part three of our conversation with AGM Curtis Hamilton later this week.