‘We’re not satisfied with where we’re at’ – HC Derrick Martin

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Head coach Derrick Martin likes what he’s seeing, particularly the attitude developing inside the dressing room.

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“There’s not a lot of guys driven by individual stats or recognition,” Martin told RocketFAN. “We’ve got some really selfless human beings in that room.”

It’s a far cry from last season, when much of the offensive heavy lifting, rightly or wrongly, rested on the shoulders of Kelowna’s top-end players. This group is showing it can spread that responsibility around, making it more difficult for opponents to focus on shutting down one or two key contributors.

The difference is showing up in the standings, too. After nine games last season, the Rockets were 3-5-0-1. This time around, they’re 4-2-2-1, having collected four more points while building a more balanced approach at both ends of the ice.

Kelowna has points in five straight games and sits three games out of first place in the B.C. Division entering Wednesday’s home game against the Portland Winterhawks.

They have also shown an ability to handle pressure. Last Friday, Kelowna needed overtime to beat Portland, with Tomas Poletin delivering the winner. The play required a quick decision, a confident pass and a forward willing to attack open ice.

Martin liked the execution, but what happened before the puck went into the net was just as important.

“I just thought we never looked defeated. We never looked nervous or scared,” Martin said. “We looked really confident in those situations this season, and I hope to see that continue with our group.”

The Rockets carried that confidence into Saturday’s meeting with the Prince George Cougars. Trailing by two goals, Kelowna fought back to force overtime before eventually falling 4-3 in a shootout.

The result wasn’t what the Rockets wanted, but their response offered another glimpse of a team learning to push through adversity. Kelowna generated several quality chances in overtime but couldn’t find the winner.

“We’ve preached that a lot this year, the resiliency and the courage,” Martin said. “I just think our group’s done a really good job in that area.”

Courage can mean different things in hockey. Sometimes it’s standing up for a teammate or winning a difficult battle along the boards. Other times, it’s having the confidence to make a play when the game is on the line, even when there’s a risk it won’t work.

Martin wants his players to embrace those moments rather than shy away from them.

“We want our guys to be courageous,” he said. “We want our guys to be OK being the hero.”

That doesn’t mean every player needs to score the overtime winner. It means every player has a role to play, and the team needs everyone to be willing to contribute when an opportunity presents itself.

Martin is also challenging his young players to understand that development comes with responsibility. Mistakes are inevitable, but the response matters more than the mistake itself.

“We can’t be afraid of mistakes,” he said. “We’ve just got to be a team that, this year, we’re really quick to learn from them.”

That philosophy extends beyond the scoresheet. Martin and his staff are looking for ways to help players prepare more effectively, including addressing slow starts and adjusting pregame routines when necessary. The goal is to help players recognize what works, make the necessary changes and become more consistent.

Kelowna has also made progress in less glamorous areas of the game. Martin pointed to improved faceoff success as an important difference between this year’s team and last season’s group.

Winning a draw can create immediate possession, help a team escape pressure or set up an offensive opportunity. Those small advantages become particularly valuable in close games, where a single sequence can determine the outcome.

For Martin, the underlying factor is the players’ willingness to work for one another.

“It’s a group that is really intrinsically motivated,” he said. “They are driven by each other.”

Five of Kelowna’s nine games have been decided by a single goal, and three consecutive contests have gone beyond regulation. The Rockets have experienced the thrill of an overtime victory and the frustration of coming close without getting the result.

Wednesday’s rematch with Portland marks the end of the Rockets’ current five-game homestand. The schedule then gets tougher, with Kelowna playing 10 of its next 15 games on the road.

The Rockets have built an encouraging foundation through nine games. Now they must prove they can sustain it.

“We’re happy with where we’re at,” Martin said. “We’re not satisfied with where we’re at. We certainly want more.”