Goalie problem averted

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Cole Schwebius was given a longer leash. Acquired in a blockbuster trade with the Seattle Thunderbirds in May of 2019, in a deal that also included Jake Lee and Dillon Hamaliuk, the Kelowna born product was sent packing in mid-October after giving up five goals on 9 shots in a season opening 6-3 loss in Victoria. The likeable goalie ended up landing in the BCHL with the Victoria Grizzlies.

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Eighteen year-old Kolby Knight was brought in as a band-aid solution following a trade with Edmonton, yet he too faltered after 10 games and was released.

The retooling in the crease started before Knight’s departure, when the team acquired 19 year-old Talyn Boyko from the Tri City Americans. The price tag was third round bantam pick and goaltender Cole Tisdale, who oddly enough was an option along with Basran and Schwebius before the season began.

Boyko, a New York Rangers draft pick, was an intimidating presence in goal. Towering over those around him, the 6’7 Drumheller, Alberta product was an instant upgrade. He would make 27 saves against the Kamloops Blazers in his Rockets’ debut while skating away with the 1st star. Boyko would have more ups and downs as the season progressed, stubbing his toe just once in 13 consecutive appearances (11-1-0-1) which led to his naming as the 2021-2022 team MVP.

In January, the Rockets learned highly coveted 17 year-old Jari Kykkanen wanted to join the team. His original plan was to play college hockey in the U.S, but had a change of heart. Kykkanen, a 6th round WHL bantam pick in 2019, only solidified the position, which three months prior, looked like a game of musical chairs with four goalies given their walking papers and management holding their breath that Boyko and Kykkanen could deliver.

Kykkanen, the more raw of the two, impressed early. The Lloydminster, Alberta product kicked aside 21 pucks in his WHL debut in a 4-3 victory in Victoria. In every game he was able to showcase a solid glove hand. In 13 appearances, the soft spoken goalie went 8 and 3 and was afforded the luxury of starting game two of an opening round playoff series against the Seattle Thunderbirds.

Now a year older and a year wiser, Rockets management can feel comfortable and confident that the most crucial position on the ice, which was a question mark a year ago, is anything but with the puck officially dropping September 24th.

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