Photo credit: Edmonton Oil Kings

By Regan Bartel

Rockets deal two veteran d-men and get o

Rockets deal two veteran d-men and get one in return

Jan 10, 2024 | 12:03 PM

Kelowna Rockets press release:

The Kelowna Rockets announced today they have acquired 2005-born defenceman Carter Kowalyk a 2024 second-round draft pick, a 2026 third-round draft pick and a 2025 fourth-round draft pick in a three-team trade involving the Edmonton Oil Kings and Saskatoon Blades. Details of the trade are below:

• Kelowna acquires defenseman Carter Kowalyk, a 2024 second-round draft pick from Saskatoon (originally Medicine Hat’s), a 2026 third-round draft pick from Saskatoon (originally Seattle’s) and a 2025 fourth-round draft pick from Edmonton.
• Edmonton acquires 2006-born defenceman Ismail Abougouche from Kelowna and a 2026 second-round pick from Saskatoon.
• Saskatoon acquires 2004-born defenceman John Babcock from Kelowna.

“In all of our deals over the last year and a half we have recouped many of the picks that we moved in preparation for the 2020 Memorial Cup,” said Rockets president and general manager Bruce Hamilton. “We had the opportunity to get a big defenceman in Carter, who will bring a little bit of bite to our team.

🔁 TRADE 🔁

The Rockets have acquired defenceman Carter Kowalyk and three draft picks in a three-team trade involving the @EdmOilKings and @BladesHockey.

Details ⬇️

— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) January 10, 2024

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“It’s always difficult to trade a guy that’s been with you as long as John has, he’s a special player who has been a real solider for us. Saskatoon is gearing up for a run, so it will be a good opportunity for him. Ismail was a twelfth-round pick who came in and made our team at sixteen, it’s just become a case of numbers here. We thank John and Ismail for their time with the Rockets and wish them the best of luck with their new clubs.”

Regan’s Take: I had heard rumblings back in December that the Blades were interested in Babcock. It provides them with depth for what they believe will be a long playoff run. I really liked ‘Babs’ over his time with the Rockets. Always personable, I believe he has a good heart and will be an excellent teammate. With Abougouche, this allows him to play closer to home. I remember how excited he was to be playing in Edmonton last season before getting hurt, oddly enough in a fight with…..Kowalyk. Abougouche was the Rockets rookie of the year last season for his determined play and aggressive style. In Kowalyk, the Rockets get a player who plays a rough and tumble style. Call him a Max Graham who plays on defense. By moving two d-men out, and picking up, specifically a second-round draft pick, it was an attractive deal not to pass up. 

Kowalyk, a product of St. Albert, AB, has missed the majority of the first half of the season with an injury. He has appeared in seven games for the Oil Kings this year, posting 15 penalty minutes.

The 6’3, 197-pound left-shot defender has appeared in 104 games over the last three seasons, posting 18 points (5G, 13A) and 138 penalty minutes. Kowalyk was a member of the Oil Kings 2022 Championship team. He was selected in the fourth-round (no. 86) by Edmonton in the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft.

He was one of four alternate captains named to the Oil Kings leadership group this season. Last season, he was named the Oil Kings recipient of their Kristians Pelss Memorial Award which is given to the player who best exemplifies the qualities of Kristians on and off the ice as a dedicated member of the team.

Babcock, 19, has appeared in 35 games for Kelowna this season, recording ten points (3G, 7A) and 45 penalty minutes. Originally a fifth-round pick of the Rockets in 2019, the 6’1.5, 204-pound left-shot defenceman has appeared in 160 games for the Rockets over the last four seasons, posting 44 points (7G, 37A), a +30 plus/minus rating and 169 penalty minutes.

Abougouche, 17, has appeared in 19 games for the Rockets this season, recording an assist and 22 penalty minutes. Selected by Kelowna in the twelfth round in 2019, the 6’3, 199-pound Lac La Biche, AB product has appeared in 69 games over the last two seasons, posting six assists, and 95 penalty minutes.

Kowalyk will join the Rockets this week, he will wear number five.