The Kelowna Rockets acquired two twenty-year-old Western Hockey League veterans in two separate transactions on Thursday.

 

The Rockets added nearly 500 games of WHL experience to its young roster, acquiring 20-year-old forwards Dylen McKinlay, in a trade with Kootenay, and J.T. Barnett off of waivers from Everett.

 

“I think our team needed to get a little older,” said Rockets general manager Bruce Hamilton. “We have guys playing on the second line that maybe should be on the third line. Adding these two players certainly gives us age and experience which I felt we needed at this time.”

 

McKinlay, a 5-foot-11, 185 pound right winger from Langley, was drafted by the Minnesota Wild in the seventh round of the 2010 NHL draft. Last season he played 66 games with the Ice, scoring 15 goals and adding 24 assists. In 09/10, he had a career high 20-23-43 in 72 games with Chilliwack.

 

The Rockets sent a fifth round bantam pick in 2015 to the Ice in the deal for McKinlay, then later claimed Barnett off of waivers from the Silvertips.

 

Barnett, a 6-foot-1, 205 pound Arizona native, split last season between the Kamloops Blazers and the Silvertips. His best season was in 09/10 when he scored 21 goals for the Blazers.