Photo credit: Dave Watling

By Regan Bartel

10 players added in Prospects Draft

“The work starts now” – Kelowna Rockets prospect Eli Barrett

May 11, 2023 | 8:58 PM

When the Kelowna Rockets’ most valuable player from this past season is from a successful hockey program, it is hard to ignore a prep school that has produced players the likes of Andrew Cristall.

St. George’s Prep School’s hockey program is in the elite category, which is why the WHL team took three players from the Vancouver-based institution in Thursday’s Prospect Draft.

“It is awesome,” is the response that came out of the mouth of 15-year-old forward Eli Barrett, who was taken with the Rockets’ first pick, 26^th overall in round two. “I wasn’t too sure where I would be picked. My advisor said anywhere from the 1^st to the 3^rd round, so I didn’t have a good idea of where I would go.”

Barrett’s head coach this past season was former Prince George Cougars GM Todd Harkins, who is the Head of Hockey at St. George’s.

“He said great things about the Rockets”, Barrett still sounding overjoyed about being chosen by the WHL franchise. “I want to have a good summer of dryland training and get on the ice and be prepared for training camp in August.”

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Barrett identifies himself as a small, skilled player, who is a fan of the Montreal Canadiens, yet his favourite player is Toronto Maple Leafs sniper Austin Matthews.

Barrett also credits Shawn McBride, a spring team head coach, as a mentor and someone he looks up to. “He taught me great things about hockey, but also how to be a good person.”

With two-third round draft picks, Rockets Director of Player Personnel Terry Faul selected Barrett’s teammate, 15-year-old forward Kanjyu Gojsic.

“I went to school today”, Gojsic told RocketFAN, rather than playing hooky like many players do when draft-eligible. “I didn’t want to miss the entire day if I wasn’t going to be chosen early. In retrospect, I wish I stayed home.”

Chosen 48th overall, Gojsic says he was interested in being chosen by a select number of WHL teams, with Kelowna being on that shortlist.

“I was happy Kelowna chose me, as it is a place I want to be,” Gojsic told RocketFAN. “My grandma lives in Penticton and my brother plays for the Vees [ 17-year-old Hiroki Gojsic], so it is a nice fit.”

While born in Japan, Gojsic credits his mom for getting all three of her sons involved in the game of hockey.

“At a young age, she put me into skating lessons,” Gojsic added. “She said I picked up a hockey stick and enjoyed it, and never looked back.”

A 19 goal season along with 46 points in 29 games has Gojsic feeling confident about his development as a player.

“I think I am a two-way player”, when asked to describe his play. “I have a decent shot and I like to play physical.”

When asked if the Langley product will attend Rockets rookie camp this August, Gojsic said without hesitation, “Yes I will.”

Just two picks after Gojsic was taken off the board, the Rockets picked Jacob Henderson, a defenceman who played at St. George’s last season and most recently played at Yale Academy.

Henderson is the son of former Tacoma/Kelowna Rockets d-man Burt Henderson, who is currently the GM/Head Coach of the BCHL’s Langley Rivermen.

In total, the Rockets took ten players on draft day, which included six forwards and four defencemen.

Up next is the annual CHL European Draft on July 5th, where the team will select 12th overall.

Note: A behind the scenes look, from a Kelowna Rockets perspective, will be featured on Monday’s edition of RocketFAN.