160 young hockey players have come from across Western Canada and the U.S. to attend the annual Kelowna Rockets rookie camp.
The next few days will help determine if the teens, most of whom are 15 years old while some are only 14 years old, have a future in hockey.
Most of the players readily admit they are nervous.
“I’m pretty hyped,” said Ryan Donaldson, 14.
Drew Danty, who is also attending the rookie camp, says he hopes to make the Rockets in a couple of years.
“I’m hoping to gain exposure and open the eyes of everyone,” Danty said.
The players scrimmage under the watchful eyes of the Rockets coaching and scouting staff.
“The scouts have done a great job of finding us players this year,” said Rockets General Manager Bruce Hamilton. “This is as good a group as we’ve ever had. They’ve got great size and they can skate.”
The scouts say they’ve seen a steady improvement in the skill level of teenage hockey players over the past few years.
“The one thing that is different between now and years ago is that they all can skate,” said Rockets Head Scout Lorne Frey. “Every one of these young guys, small or large, can skate.”
Many of the players have been scouted for years.
Some received rookie camp invitations from numerous WHL teams and had to make some tough decisions about where they wanted to go.
Russ Pickett’s son is attending the rookie camp.
“He wasn’t drafted but he had several invitations. Because of the reputation of the Rockets he chose to come here,” said Pickett.
Every year, three or four rookies are chosen to become future members of the Kelowna Rockets.
The team is known as one of the most successful junior hockey franchises in the country.
NHL stars Shea Weber, Josh Gorges and Duncan Keith were discovered at the team’s previous rookie camps.
The rookie camp got underway Thursday and wraps up Sunday.
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