Rewind: Looking back at the Rockets last two draft classes

The Western Hockey League’s Bantam Draft provides teams with the chance to stock up on prospects and build for the future. With the 2020 Draft under a week away, today we’re going to take a look back at our last two drafts to see where those prospects are and how they’ve done over the last few seasons*.

Lorne Frey, the Rockets assistant general manager/director of player personnel, provided a scouting report on a handful of the players.

*stats shown are from the regular season

2019 WHL Bantam Draft Class:

Second-round, #27 overall: Nolan Flamand

Position: Forward

Height: 5’10

Weight: 161 lbs

DOB: Jan. 12, 2004

Nolan Flamand moved up to play Midget hockey as a 14-year-old last season, as an underage player he managed to produce 27 points. Somehow the Saskatoon, Sask. product fell to the Rockets at 27.

Lorne’s scouting report: “The biggest impact is his playmaking ability, he has great vision and the ability to set up his teammates in scoring position. I think that’s his forte, when you look at his stats his assists are way up. If you’ve got a scorer on your team, he’s definitely going to help that guy out getting him the puck.”

First @TheWHL game in the books for Nolan Flamand 🔥 pic.twitter.com/4dClONto5G

— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) March 7, 2020

Fourth-round, #71 overall: Jayden Joly

Position: Forward

Height: 5’10

Weight: 150 lbs

DOB: Oct. 20, 2004

Joly missed the entirety of the 2019-2020 campaign due to injury.

Fifth-round, #110 overall: John Babcock

Position: Defence

Height: 6’0

Weight: 174 lbs

DOB: Apr. 25, 2004

Defenceman John Babcock appeared in four pre-season contests with the Rockets back in the fall collecting an assist.

Lorne’s scouting report: “John is another player that had a real good finish. He started out slow, but his offence really started to develop towards the end of the season.”

Sixth-round, #115 overall: Jari Kykkanen

Position: Goaltender

Height: 6’5

Weight: 185 lbs

DOB: Aug. 16, 2004

Lorne’s scouting report: “Jari had a good year this past season, he’s a big goalie with good athletic ability. He just has to grow into his body, we hope he continues to grow and develop.”

Sixth-round, #118 overall: Maxwell Sanford

Position: Forward

Height: 6’0

Weight: 185 lbs

DOB: Jun. 5, 2004

Lorne’s scouting report: “Maxwell got hurt in our camp last year and started the season slow, but he had a great finish. His upside is huge, he’s a great skater with good skill.”

Seventh-round, #140 overall: Jackson Smith

Position: Defence

Height: n/a

Weight: n/a

DOB: May 20, 2004

Lorne’s scouting report: “He’s a good solid defensive player, moves the puck well and plays defensively.”

Eighth–round, #162 overall: Daimon Gardner

Position: Forward

Height: 6’2

Weight: 165 lbs

DOB: Jan. 18, 2004

Lorne’s scouting report: “Gardner is a bit of a surprise for a late pick, he had an exceptional season with Rink. He has improved dramatically and turned into quite the player, we’re very fortunate to have him as a prospect.”

Tenth-round, #204 overall: Rilen Kovacevic

Position: Forward

Height: 5’10

Weight: 170 lbs

DOB: Aug. 2, 2004

Kovacevic played in five games with the Rockets this season, the max for a 15-year-old until their midget team’s season has ended.

Lorne’s scouting report: “Rilen had a great year developing, he had a real good year for a 15-year-old playing Midget AAA hockey. He just has to keep growing and developing.”

.@KovacevicRilen is expected to make his @TheWHL debut tonight.

The 15-year-old Kelowna product was drafted by the Rockets in May.

He has 17 points in 20 games with the @OkanaganRockets. pic.twitter.com/LAh3CzHcpO

— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) January 11, 2020

2018 WHL Bantam Draft Class:

First-round, #18 overall: Trevor Wong

Position: Centre

Height: 5’8

Weight: 154 lbs

DOB: May 4, 2003

Centreman Trevor Wong was projected to be a top-ten pick in the 2018 WHL Bantam Draft but fell to the Rockets due to a verbal commitment to the University of Denver. Considered one of the more elite skaters of the draft the Rockets took a flyer on him at 18.

Wong made his WHL debut on October 27, 2018, just hours after signing a standard Western Hockey League (WHL) Player Agreement. He scored his first WHL goal on February 2, 2019, against the Kamloops Blazers, he became the first 15-year-old to find the back of the net for the Rockets since Shane McColgan back in 2008.

He was one of two 16-year-olds to crack the Rockets lineup this season.

So honoured and excited to have signed with the @Kelowna_Rockets yesterday. There are many people I need to thank that have helped me get to this point in my career. Also, an amazing experience playing my first WHL game yesterday. Excited to see what the future holds as a rocket!

— Trevor Wong (@wongtrevor8) October 29, 2018

Second-round, #40 overall: Elias Carmichael

Position: Defence

Height: 6’2

Weight: 185 lbs

DOB: Aug. 16, 2003

Defenceman Elias Carmichael was the other 16-year-old to make the Rockets team full time this year. He grew more comfortable as the season went on, winning the Rockets Most Improved award at the end of the year.

Elias Carmichael has a UNIque way of working on his hand-eye coordination. pic.twitter.com/Nnd5v8Kig1

— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) April 10, 2020

Fourth-round, #84 overall: Jackson DeSouza

Position: Defence

Height: 6’4

Weight: 185 lbs

DOB: Mar. 21, 2003

Jackson DeSouza was one of the last cuts at the Rockets camp this year. The 6’4, 185-pound was close by though, he played in four games as affiliate player and made the prairie trip with the team ahead of the Christmas break.

Lorne’s scouting report: “He’s a great skater with great puck skills and some size to him. I think once he gets settled in and learns his abilities he’s going to be a great defenceman.”

Fourth-round, #88 overall: Noah Dorey

Position: Defence

Height: 5’11

Weight: 168 lbs

DOB: Jan. 21, 2003

Noah Dorey was another late cut at the Rockets camp this past fall. The Surrey, BC product suited up in 13 games with the Rockets as an affiliated player this past season, even playing a few games as a forward.

Lorne’s scouting report: “Noah had a great season, his offence was really there with Delta. He’s another defenceman that has skill and can skate.”

Fifth-round, #89 overall: Steel Quiring

Position: Forward

Height: 6’1

Weight: 181 lbs

DOB: Jan. 15, 2003

Steel Quiring spent a lot of extra time around the Western Hockey League Rockets as the team found itself in injury trouble. The Vernon, BC product appeared in 12 games with the Rockets this past season, and also joined the team on their prairie road trip.

Lorne’s scouting report: “Steel had a great season point wise, I think had he not missed a few games he would’ve led his team in scoring. His asset is he’s great with the puck, he has a very high hockey IQ.”

Fifth-round, #106 overall: Hayden Wilm

Position: Forward

Height: 5’10

Weight: 174 lbs

DOB: Feb. 27, 2003

Lorne’s scouting report: “Hayden has spent the last two seasons playing with Flamand on the Blazers. He’s a good two-way player whose development is coming along.”

Sixth-round, #128 overall: William Irvine

Position: Defence

Height: 5’11

Weight: 181 lbs

DOB: Mar. 3, 2003

Lorne’s scouting report: “He had a very good year in Manitoba playing with Pembina, he was one of the top-scoring defencemen in his league. He’s a smart offensive player who is strong and moves the puck well.”

Seventh-round, #150 overall: Ryan Nutt

Height: 5’10

Weight: 181 lbs

DOB: Jun. 17, 2003

Eighth-round, #171 overall: Arvega Hovsepyan

Position: Forward

Height: 5’10

Weight: 174 lbs

DOB: Apr. 2, 2003

Lorne’s scouting report: “He had a great year playing at Shattuck with their 16-year-old team, his development keeps rising. We’re excited to see him at camp again this year.”

Ninth-round, #191 overall: Turner McMillen

Position: Forward

Height: 5’11

Weight: 150 lbs

DOB: Jan. 30, 2003

McMillen became this first, second-generation Rocket this past season. His father, Dave, played two seasons for the Tacoma Rockets and was the team captain for the 1991-92 season.

Lorne’s scouting report: “He’s a smart two-way player with skill and some bite to him, he can play in all situations if need be.”

Tenth-round, #204 overall: Justin Dueck

Position: Goaltender

Height: 6’1

Weight: 194 lbs

DOB: Aug. 28, 2003

Lorne’s scouting report: “He didn’t play a ton, his team had another goalie ahead of him. There was a stretch this season where the Legionnaires other goalie was called up, so Justin got to play in about five in a row, his last two or three games were very good. It’s just a matter of him playing and getting ice time to continue developing.”

The 2020 Western Hockey League Bantam Draft will be conducted online on Wednesday, April 22.