*The opinions of a Western Hockey League radio broadcaster*
Regan Bartel is a broadcaster for Pattison Media, covering the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League since 2000. His play-by-play career began in Swift Current, Saskatchewan, with the Broncos. Since moving to Kelowna, Regan has called games at five Memorial Cups (2003, ’04, ’05, ’09, ’15), the CHL Top Prospects Game (2012) and the Canada-Russia Subway Super Series (2009).
The lost art of true sports storytelling
Why athlete stories should never fade
There was a time when getting into sports journalism was not about going viral, or chasing clout with hot takes. It was about telling stories. Not just the scores and stats, but the human side of the athletes we cover. What drives them? What shaped them? What failures and doubts have they carried, and what moments stil...
Jul 22, 2025
Read More
One call, one commitment
Luke Schenn's call, Mazden Leslie's answer
Sometimes, all it takes is one phone call. That call came earlier this week, from NHL defenceman and Kelowna Rockets alumnus Luke Schenn to 20-year-old blueliner Mazden Leslie, a player caught between two very different hockey paths. Leslie had recently been acquired by the Kelowna Rockets in a trade with the Vancouver...
Jul 19, 2025
Read More
Is the NCAA grass really greener?
WHL's grit and grind is unmatched
Alright, hockey fans, it is official. Gavin McKenna is heading to Penn State. Nope, he did not get cut, and no, he is not running off to join some wild frat party. He is chasing opportunity and a cool $700,000 thanks to a new NCAA rule that lets college athletes earn money from their name, image, and likeness. Who woul...
Jul 10, 2025
Read More
Benches, dentists, and dreadlocks
Things that make me go hmm...
The Kelowna Rockets have just released the details on their 2025-2026 season ticket packages, and honestly? Not bad at all. If you're a senior, you can catch every game in a Memorial Cup year for about $650. That's like the cost of a new iPhone case and five trips to Denny's. Adult season tickets come in around $800, w...
Jun 20, 2025
Read More
WHL drama doesn't do days off
Things that make me go hmm...
Take a couple of weeks off, and what happens? While I was eating smoked meat in Montreal and pretending to speak perfect French in Quebec City, the junior hockey world exploded with off-ice drama. Even if you're just a casual fan, it's been impossible to miss. And if you're a Rockets fan like we are, there's a lot to d...
Jun 09, 2025
Read More
No panic, just picks
Inside the Rockets war room - calm, cool and carded
You'd expect absolute chaos. The kind you see on the trading floor of the New York Stock Exchange - people yelling over each other, flailing arms, papers flying in every direction, maybe someone dramatically throwing a chair. At the very least, a coffee gets spilled. But step inside the Kelowna Rockets' war room at the...
May 11, 2025
Read More
Roster changes and renovations
Things that make me go hmm...
The Kelowna Rockets are missing out on playing meaningful games this spring. While they fought for the eighth and final playoff spot late in the season, there's a big difference between those "do or die" games and the actual intensity of playoff hockey. The pressure is higher, and the stakes are much greater....
Apr 01, 2025
Read More
Playing with passion amid losing record
Things that make me go hmm...
We've reached the final week of the regular season, with the Kelowna Rockets having three games remaining. They'll face Victoria and Kamloops at home before wrapping up the 68-game schedule with a road matchup against the Vancouver Giants on Sunday. After that, the only event left will be the team's annual awards cerem...
Mar 18, 2025
Read More
Notes, quotes and anecdotes
Things that make me go hmm...
On this platform, little to this point has been said about Kris Mallette's firing on January 10th, but now, 41 days later, it's time to reflect. The long-time coach was let go and has since resurfaced as the head coach of the OHL's Erie Otters. Looking back at the decision, I understand it. If you put yourself in GM Br...
Feb 20, 2025
Read More
GM Bruce Hamilton/AGM Curtis Hamilton
Things that make me go hmm...
It's been a huge week for the Kelowna Rockets, with the team officially awarded the 2026 Memorial Cup last Wednesday. Kelowna's bid beat out four other cities, with Medicine Hat seen as the toughest competitor - largely because of the presence of Gavin McKenna, the WHL's top scorer and likely first overall pick in the ...
Dec 03, 2024
Read More
Notes, one quote and anecdotes
Things that make me go hmm...
How valuable is Andrew Cristall to the Kelowna Rockets' success? Over the last three seasons, the 19-year-old has missed 26 regular season games. Over that stretch, the team is a combined 6-19-1-0. I asked Kris Mallette about his team's slow start. His answer hit the bullseye. "To be rated early in the season, we ...
Oct 08, 2024
Read More
Notes, quotes and anecdotes
Things that make me go hmm...
The photo above is Gabriel Szturc, taken by RocketFAN on the second last day of the 2023-2024 regular season. Turning 21 on September 24th, Szturc became the first European-born captain in franchise history and held the honour for two seasons. Szturc will represent the Tampa Bay Lightning at the 2024 Rookie Showcase, w...
Sep 13, 2024
Read More
