Young OK Rockets take aim at major midget hockey title

It’s all about development . . . well almost.

The BC Hockey Major Midget League was established in 2004 to provide elite-level 15-17-year-olds an opportunity to play within their own age group and be prepared for junior hockey and beyond. But there is still a prize to be had.

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The Kelowna-based Okanagan Rockets begin their quest for a BC Hockey provincial title and an opportunity to play for the Telus Cup, emblematic of a national midget championship this weekend when they play host to the South Island Royals on Saturday (5 p.m.) and Sunday (10 a.m.) at the CNC.

While Rockets coach Simon Ferguson isn’t looking as far ahead down the road as Saint-Hyacinthe, Que., site of the 47th annual event, he does have the a BCHMML playoff berth on his radar and is sharing his vision with his fresh new recruits.

“Of course preparing players for the next level is our main goal,but development and winning go hand in hand,” asserts Ferguson, in his third season with the Rockets, who finished third at the Telus Cup in 2014. “If you develop properly, you win.”

And Ferguson believes players who have been a part of a winning environment are much more prepared for doing the same at the next level.

He doesn’t have to look any further to back up the point than his 2019-20 lineup, the third youngest among the 10 teams in the BCHMML (15.89 years). Nine members of major midget Rockets helped the Okanagan Rockets’ minor midget team to a BC Hockey championship last spring and are expected to be leaders this season despite their rookie status.

Teamed up with a trio of exceptional 15-year-olds and five 17s and four other promising 16-year-olds who played outside the organization last season, the minor midget graduates should be in the thick of the race for playoff spot.

And if the way they played in four wins at their own Icebreaker tournament in Kelowna recently is any indication, they’re expected to make their bid in a fast-paced fashion in all areas of the ice.

“This is a really solid defensive corps,” says Ferguson, without hesitation. “Not only are they tough to beat defensively, but major strengths are their skating and their puck-moving ability. And what makes it really exciting is that they’re all 15 and 16 years old and still learning a lot at this level. I’m looking forward to seeing just how good they can be by Christmas.”

As far as the forwards are concerned, it’s no holds barred for Ferguson.

“In my opinion, all of our forwards can play junior hockey. They’re good right now and there’s plenty of offensive upside throughout the lineup.”

The Rockets’ coach plans to utilize the talent in best possible way.

“This will be a puck-pursuit and puck-possession team playing at a very fast pace,” says Ferguson. “But these guys can also play well defensively and are willing to learn more about that part of the game.”

Despite the optimism, Ferguson is well aware the Rockets still have to play the games . . . in what is a competitive league with parity.

“You just can’t take a weekend off in this league,” he said. “Of course the Cariboo (league champions two of the past three years) and Fraser Valley will be among the favourites again, but some of the teams, including ourselves, have improved. So when you consider that only 10 points separated the top five teams last season, you know it’s going to be a grind just getting into the playoffs.

“But once you get there, it’s a whole new hockey game.”

Telus Cup anyone?

2019-20 Roster

DEFENCE

Jackson Desouza - 16 - A late release from the Kelowna Rockets this fall, Desouza was a fourth-round (84th overall) bantam draft of the Western Hockey League team in 2018 . . . He contributed a goal and 13 assists as a 15-year-old with the OK Rockets last season . . . Big (6’2”, 170 pounds), smooth-skating, puck-moving rearguard with a hard shot.

Connor Elliott - 16 - Chosen as a league all-star, he led all defencemen and was fourth overall in scoring (five goals, 20 assists in 27 games) for the Okanagan Rockets’ minor midget championship team last season . . . A graduate of the Pursuit of Excellence program and the Vernon minor hockey system, Elliott is listed by the Swift Current Broncos of the WHL . . . Although his offensive numbers are high, he’s considered a high-end defensive defenceman.

Curtis Gould - 16 - Another member of the B.C.-champion minor midget team last season, Gould played six games with the major midgets as well . . . Good first pass and skates extremely well . . . Being looked to as a defensive stalwart but has solid offensive upside.

Tyson Jugnauth - 15 - The Swift Current Broncos of the WHL drafted Jugnauth in the first round (21st overall) in the 2019 bantam draft . . . Played most of last season with the Central Okanagan Zone bantam Rockets but joined the Okanagan Rockets’ minor midget team for six games during their run to a provincial title (2g,3a) . . . He’s still in the running to make U16 Team BC . . . Extremely smart player with exceptional puck-moving ability . . . High offensive upside.

Cam Moger - 17 - Physical offensive defenceman from Vernon who played with the North Okanagan Zone midget team last year but could have made the Okanagan Rockets if he was so inclined . . . Lots of upside on offence and is expected to be a team leader for the Rockets this season.

Jace Weir - 15 - Another Vernon product, Weir (6’1”, 161 pounds) played with the North Okanagan Zone bantam team last season and was chosen in the second round (38th overall) by the Red Deer Rebels of the WHL (signed) . . . Physical and hard to play against . . . A right shot, skates well and moves the puck extremely well . . . Finished with 32 points in 18 games last season.

FORWARDS

Coletyn Boyarski - 17 - Among the top point producers with the Central Zone Tier 1 Rockets last season, Boyarski also played three games with the OK Rockets . . . He’s strong on both sides of the puck and is expected to contribute on both the power play and penalty kill . . . Being looked to as team leader.

Riley Dobranski - 17 - Scored 12 goals and added 12 assists in 31 games with the POE Prep team last year and had another goal and five assists with the POE 18U team . . . Shoots the puck extremely well.

Cameron Hicklin - 16 - Led the Okanagan Minor Midget Rockets and the league in points last season with 48 (17-31) and was selected to the BCMIML all-star team . . . An AP with the West Kelowna Warriors this season, he added nine goals and four assists in eight playoff games last year . . . Slippery player with ability to score in tight and his passing is superlative.

Rilen Kovacevic - 15 - Considered a hidden gem in the 2019 WHL bantam draft, Kovacevic was picked in the 10th round (204th) by the WHL Kelowna Rockets (signed) and impressed in camp before being assigned to the OK Rockets . . . He’s also in the running to make U16 Team BC . . . With a pro-calibre shot, Kovacevic registered 34 points in 30 games with the POE Bantam Prep last season.

Benn Krovoschen - 17 - The only player in his third season with the OK Rockets, Krovoschen is coming off a season in which he had 25 points (6g,19a) in 39 games . . . A Kelowna product who showed well at the West Kelowna Warriors’ camp and should see some AP time in the BCHL this season . . . Bigger and faster this year, he has an above-average shot which he’s being urged to use more.

Brennan Nelson - 16 - Second in points (15g,30a in 26 games) to Hicklin and playing on the same line with the minor midgets last season, the Penticton product is listed by Everett of the WHL . . . Named the BCMIML player of the year and chosen as a league all-star . . . Smooth skater and strong passer, he has quick hands around the net.

Quinn Paterson - 16 - Joined Brennan Nelson at the Everett Silvertips’ camp this fall after scoring 17 goals in 26 games with the Okanagan Rockets’ minor midget team last season . . . A graduate of the POE Bantam Prep team, Paterson is one of the faster and stronger skaters in the OK Rockets’ lineup . . . High-end shot and great vision.

Teague Patton - 15 - He won’t turn 16 until Dec. 15 but Patton already has a year of major midget hockey on his resume, posting 27 points (10g,17a in 35 games) with the OK Rockets last season . . . He’s signed with the WHL’s Medicine Hat Tigers, and should he live up to expectations with his outstanding scoring and playmaking skills, could be in the Hat lineup next season.

Steel Quiring - 16 - At 6’1, 181 pounds, Quiring is tough boy/man to knock off the puck . . . That’s part of the reason he was a late reassign of the WHL Rockets who picked the Vernon product in the fifth round (89th overall) in the 2018 bantam draft. Among the other attributes are his uncanny passing ability, heavy shot and exceptional skating . . . As a 15-year-old rookie last season with the OK Rockets, Quiring was fourth in team points with 41 on 15 goals and 26 assists in 35 games.

Riley Sharun - 16 - Coming off a solid showing with the West Kelowna Warriors in pre-season, Sharun was injured and didn’t play in the OK Rockets’ Icebreaker tournament . . . While he contributed 21 points (14g,7a) with the minor midgets last year and added nine points in the playoff run to the league championship, the West Kelowna product’s best attribute might be his solid defensive play and a penalty killing — with some offensive upside.

Porter Trevelyan - 16 - The Vernon product, who also attended Everett’s camp this fall, will join Sharun as one of the OK Rockets’ main PK guys . . . Speedy skater and superb stickhandler who played with the North Okanagan Zone bantam team and was added to the Okanagan Rockets’ minor midget team on it way to a provincial title.

Dylan Wightman - 16 - Following seasons with POE and the Okanagan Hockey Academy, Wightman joined the Okanagan Rockets as a 15-year-old in 2018-19, scoring nine times and adding 14 assists in 40 games . . . Now listed by the Kelowna Rockets, he’ll be counted on to be a shutdown defensive centreman . . . Excellent on the faceoff.

GOALIES

Cayden Hamming - 16 - A graduate of last year’s POE Prep team, Hamming of Armstrong also got in one game with the North Okanagan Knights of the KIJHL . . . Brings his hard-working farm-boy attributes to the crease (he’s also a 4H award winner).

Bailey Monteith - 17 - After a season with the Osoyoos Coyotes of the KIJHL in which he played 22 games, posted a 4.70 goals-against average and an .877 save percentage, Monteith returns to the BCHMML . . . The Kamloops product played with the Thompson Blazers as a 15-year-old.

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