No trade war here: Rockets welcome two American rookies

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Having both of them born in the United States makes it even more interesting.

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Braunshausen will try to earn his spot as a forward, while Sorenson will look to establish himself on the blue line.

Unless either one falls flat on his face at camp, hopefully not literally, both should have a very good chance of making the Rockets’ 2026-27 roster.

Braunshausen comes to Kelowna from Lake Elmo, Minnesota.

The 5-foot-9 forward appears to bring skill and speed to the Rockets’ forward group. He may not be the biggest player on the ice, but smaller forwards can make up for that with quickness, creativity and the ability to make plays in tight spaces.

That will be something to watch as Braunshausen gets his first real opportunity to show what he can do in a Rockets uniform.

Sorenson could be an even more important addition on defence.

The 6-foot-1, 185-pound defenceman is from Los Angeles, California, and arrives at a time when Kelowna has some significant holes to fill on the blue line.

Mazden Leslie has aged out, while Parker Alcos and Keith McInnis are also gone.

That leaves plenty of minutes available.

Sorenson has a chance to grab some of them.

The Rockets already have one of the WHL’s top young defenders in Peyton Kettles, who was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round of this year’s NHL Draft.

Add Nate Corbet and Rowan Guest to the mix, and Kelowna’s defence is shaping up to be one of the older groups on the team.

More importantly, the Rockets have several players in their top four who could become impact defencemen.

For Sorenson, the challenge is fairly simple.

Defend well. Move the puck. Make smart decisions. Handle the pace of the WHL.

If he can do those things, the Rockets may have found a valuable addition.

Braunshausen faces a different challenge.

He will have to show that his skill and speed can translate against bigger and stronger WHL players.

And that is what makes training camp so important for both players.

They may be rookies on the WHL roster, but at 19, they are not players the Rockets can afford to wait on for several years.

Kelowna is entering this season with a much different feeling.

The pressure of hosting the Memorial Cup is now in the rear-view mirror. There is no tournament to prepare for and no need to build a roster around being the host team.

Now the goal is much simpler.

Win.

That puts a premium on players who can contribute right away.

For Braunshausen and Sorenson, the timing could be perfect.

Two American rookies. Two different positions. Two opportunities to make an immediate impact.

And, for once, the only thing being traded between Canada and the U.S. is hockey talent.