Photo credit: Steve Dunsmoor

By Regan Bartel

Dylan Wightman calls situation chaotic

‘We had two minutes to grab whatever we could’ – Kelowna Rockets forward Dylan Wightman

Aug 21, 2023 | 11:39 AM

Dylan Wightman feels like one of the fortunate ones.

The 20-year-old forward with the Kelowna Rockets had his home evacuated after flames from the McDougall Creek fire in West Kelowna jumped Okanagan Lake and impacted neighborhoods in Kelowna.

“We were watching the fires on the Westside as it was ripping across the mountain, and my dad said we should get a bag together just in case we got evacuated”, Wightman told RocketFAN. “I shrugged it off, not thinking fire could jump a lake that wide. Next thing we knew, fire trucks were coming to our area and people yelling that there is a fire on our side.”

The Kelowna fire was originally concentrated on Clifton Road, where Wightman’s home is located.

“We went outside, and probably 300 meters from my house there was open flame”, Wightman continued. “It was chaotic. We had two minutes to grab whatever you could and then got out of there.”

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The Wightman’s are currently staying with family down in the Mission (Kelowna neighbourhood) until it is safe to return home again.

“We got a photo sent to us of our house, and it is all scorched right up until the fence line, so our house was saved,” Wightman with relief in his voice. “It went right around us.”

Wightman is no stranger to witnessing forest fires. In the Okanagan, it is commonplace to see residents being impacted and fleeing for safety from the ranging flames.

“You don’t think it is going to happen to you”, Wightman admitted. “You see videos of what the firefighters were walking into, and the danger they are putting themselves in to save someone else’s property. Our house would be gone if it wasn’t for them. We are incredibly grateful.”

Dylan Wightman isn’t alone in being displaced from his home. Mark Liwiski and Jake Poole, who have been living with each other this summer near UBC Okanagan had to flee, as did former Kelowna Rocket and now Edmonton Oil Kings forward Rilen Kovacevic, who lives further down Okanagan Lake in McKinley Beach.

“I was hearing from everyone to see if I was okay”, Wightman admitted he was receiving text messages from friends concerned about his wellbeing. “It was an absolute blur that Thursday night and Friday night wasn’t much different.”

Being evacuated has impacted Wightman’s preparation for the start of training camp in two weeks. The well-spoken forward had several on-ice sessions planned for this week at Royal Le-Page Place in West Kelowna, which is being used as an emergency centre for evacuees on that side of the lake.

“I can go into the gym and work out, but there aren’t a lot of things a guy can do. It isn’t healthy to be outside breathing this stuff [smoke]. I just hope things don’t get delayed at all, and I will be ready to go for camp no matter what.”

Showing Wightman’s empathy for others and why he is a strong candidate for a leadership role with this year’s team, the 15-goal-man from a season ago put things in perspective.

“There are more important things than skating right now.”