Photo credit: Steve Dunsmoor

By Regan Bartel

Rockets look to rebound on the road

‘We are not happy with where we are’, Rockets d-man Jackson DeSouza

Nov 10, 2023 | 8:00 AM

When the mood is light and winning is commonplace, Kelowna Rockets defenseman Jackson DeSouza is the life of the party.

When things aren’t going the team’s way, and the losses continue to mount, the 20-year-old’s outgoing personality turns into boiling intensity, and his tolerance for mediocrity is met with a short fuse.

“Obviously, we are not happy where we are right now,” DeSouza told RocketFAN. “We have to get back to the basics of playing hard and everyone doing their own job. It is still early in the season, and we have lots to improve on, but we can’t worry about the past, just what we can control.”

DeSouza, who will play in his 150th career game this evening in Everett against the Tips, won’t wow you with lightning speed or a booming shot, yet the fourth-year defender can be a pillar of strength by playing to the best of his abilities, and hoping others play with that same consistent fervor.

“It is tough,” the well-spoken defender reflected on the team’s inconsistent play. “It starts with the older guys being consistent because we have been in this league and we have played these games before, and we’ve been on the road. We need to show the younger guys what consistency looks like to the younger guys.”

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What you can’t say during this four-game losing streak is that the effort hasn’t been there. Outside of a less-than-stellar performance against Wenatchee in a 4-0 loss, the team had every chance of beating Spokane, Victoria, and Red Deer. A commitment to playing physically, while staying out of the penalty box is clearly obvious.

“Mally [Mallette] says it all the time. It is a contact sport,” DeSouza said.  “You can’t be alarmed when you get hit. I like the hardnosed games, as it gets you involved more. It gets your head on a swivel more and gets you not watching your passes, so I don’t mind it.”

As the team embarks on a day trip to Everett (104.7 The Lizard has the pre-game show tonight at 6:35 pm), it is unknown if veteran goaltender Jari Kykkanen will play after missing the previous two games with an upper-body injury. DeSouza says it doesn’t matter who starts, the team doesn’t change the way they commit to defending.

“Not at all,” DeSousa said without hesitation. “We all have confidence in Pills [Jake Pilon] and we just need to play the same way no matter who is in goal. Everyone just needs to be better. The only way we are going to get out of this is through hard work and playing simple. Guys in the room have all the faith in the world of him, and we are going to stand up for him.”

It seems like yesterday the team was only five points out of first place in the entire WHL, but after a recent slump, the Rockets are now 9 points in the rearview mirror of Prince George, Saskatoon, and Medicine Hat.

DeSousa admits now is the time to make hay by earning points while playing 11 of their next 15 games on the road.

“I just go where I am told,” he said. “I don’t look too far into the schedule. You can ask any of the guys in the dressing room, I am always asking what’s coming up next. At home, or away, you have to prepare the same way as it’s still two points on the board.”

“It starts with preparation. You have to go into each game clear-headed.”