Photo credit: Paige Bednorz

By Regan Bartel

Feverishly finding the next phenom

Terry McFaul: Astute analyzer of young talent

Aug 30, 2023 | 8:00 AM

Terry McFaul knows no different.

For the long-time WHL scout, turned director of player personnel for the Kelowna Rockets, it’s as routine as brushing his teeth in the morning, or having a cup of coffee to get his day started.

When late August rolls around, McFaul is an eager beaver for the start of rookie camp at Prospera Place.

“It is a good, workable number”, McFaul told RocketFAN about the 76 wide-eyed teenagers who will attend camp this week. “We have a couple of extra goalies.”

Among the 10 goalies invited is 14-year-old Addy Price, the younger brother of veteran d-man Caden Price.

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Split into four teams, the reduced numbers should make it easier to evaluate the 2008-born players, under the watchful eye of McFaul’s scouting staff.

“All of the players we selected in May will be there, outside of Ben Macbeath, a Calgary player who was chosen in the 7^th round”, McFaul added. “There is still a chance we might see him, but he has chosen to attend a tier two camp in Sherwood Park.”

Eli Barrett, the Rockets’ first selection chosen 26^th overall in the second round in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, is a player who should stand out when on-ice sessions start Thursday.

“We just want to see steady improvement”, McFaul not wanting to put added pressure on a player who many believe could eventually be a top-six forward in the WHL. “He is going to be a big guy. He has grown a few inches since the end of the year. For me, 17 is the magic number, so when he is that age, he should be ready to go. He is a smart player who skates well and moves the puck well. He is going to be a good player for us.”

While Barrett carries the torch into rookie camp as a cornerstone for the team’s future success, don’t sleep on Kanjyu Gojsic, a third-round selection who brings lots of energy.

“You will like this player”, McFaul not wanting to oversell the 15-year-old, who is the younger brother of 17-year-old forward Hiroki Gojsic, who has yet to play a game in major junior after his rights were obtained by the Rockets’ in a summer trade with the Victoria Royals.

Let’s not forget Kalder Varga either. From Geneva Illinois, this forward was chosen in the first-round, 7th overall in the 2023 US Prospects Draft. Varga’s father, John, was a prolific scorer with the Tacoma Rockets in the early 90’s.

McFaul should know what he is talking about when scouting young talent. Based in Calgary, the grizzled veteran has been with the organization since its inception. No one, not even Red Deer’s Scott Barber, a retired RCMP officer, has longer tenure with the team.

“Our group [scouts] have been together for a long time”, McFaul added. “We all have the same idea on the type of players we want to see. With Curtis [assistant general manager Curtis Hamilton] coming in last year, he broadened the scope a little bit, so we’ve all had to expand a little bit. They work hard, they are at the rink all the time, they know the players, and very seldom do we have one scout identify a player differently than the rest of the group does.”

McFaul has all the attributes that make him a great hockey mind. The quality that sets him apart is patience. Like a grandfather, he has a calm demeanor, as opposed to General Manager Bruce Hamilton who is as competitive as anyone. Not like McFaul doesn’t want to win as badly, but his even-keel personality makes him perfect for the job.

“Even for the kids coming into camp that we haven’t drafted, we tell them at camp, don’t let the dream die”, McFaul added. “You never give up. You keep working hard. For a lot of these kids, at 14 years old you aren’t great. Some it is at 15 or 16, and some not until they are 17. Hey, if they play well through the rookie camp, one or two invites may come to the main camp with our drafted kids.”

With workouts throughout the weekend before main camp opens on Sunday, McFaul wants everyone to play to their strengths.

“We’ve seen the majority of these players multiple times”, McFaul concluded.

“When rookie camp opens, there won’t be any player on the ice we haven’t seen before, that’s for sure.”