Kelowna Rockets rookie camp reaches halfway point
Day one of the Kelowna Rockets rookie camp was successful as 105 Rockets hopefuls were divided into six teams before they took to the Prospera Place ice to begin their week.
Each team played two games yesterday, they each play another two Wednesday, two today and one on Friday morning to finish things off.
As the nerves of day one have been worked out, day two lets players relax a little bit. Rockets 10th round selection in the most recent Bantam Draft, Brody Wilson of Birtle, Man., says the week is easier (when it comes to nerves) after day one.
“Today was a lot more comfortable. Yesterday was a lot more about getting used to the environment and getting used to everyone around you,” Wilson said.
“The first day was about working on lines with each other and switching with each other to play different positions but overall it went well. The rest of the week is about playing my game, getting even more comfortable in my environment, and having fun.”
The Rockets 9th round selection in the Bantam Draft, Steven Kesserling out of Yorkton, Sask., reiterated the relief of ridding himself of the day one nerves.
“I thought I did pretty well in day one, but there were a lot of nerves. I just had to get over that and try to play my best,” Kesserling stated.
“Today I’m a bit more used to it and it’s a little bit quicker of a pace. I’ve been playing with the same guys quite a bit, so we’ve developed some chemistry and we’ve been passing well.”
Day two is the halfway point for the rookie camp as tomorrow they each have two games, and on Friday each team has one final game.
The rookies hit the ice again tomorrow morning at 9:00 a.m.
Kelowna takes the ice as a team for the first time on Sept. 2, when they host the Victoria Royals at Prospera Place at 7:05 p.m.
Tickets are now on sale for all Rockets preseason games.
Tickets are available for Rockets home games through selectyourtickets.com, , at the Prospera Place box office or by phone at 250-762-5050.