Trade jump starts Wudrick
r By Warren Henderson – Kelowna Capital News
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r Mired in one of the longest scoring slumps of his Western Hockey League career, Geordie Wudrick needed a change of scenery.
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r That’s literally what the Abbotsford native got when the Swift Current Broncos sent the 19-year-old forward from the Prairies to the Okanagan to play for the Kelowna Rockets.
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r “I’m here to play hockey first, but obviously the trees, the mountains and the lake is a really nice bonus,” said Wudrick, who the Rockets acquired Nov. 16 for forward Stepan Novotny and prospect Tanner Clark. “To come back to B.C. to a team with a winning history like the Rockets is great, too. I’m excited and honoured they want me to be part of their franchise.”
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r Wudrick, a 6-foot-3, 210 pound power forward, stepped up as a bona fide WHL sharpshooter last season scoring 35 times for the Broncos. But after a quick start this season, Wudrick’s touch suddenly went south as he tallied just once in his last 14 games in Swift Current.
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r In Kelowna, it’s been a case of so far, so good for Wudrick who has scored twice and added an assist in his first three contests as a Rocket.
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r But it’s more than just offense Wudrick brings to the Rockets’ table.
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r “I think he’s done a very good job for us so far and we’re pleased with what he’s brought to the team,” said Rockets head coach Ryan Huska. “We like his willingness to get involved physically and he has good scoring touch as well.
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r “Stepan (Novotny) was a great team member, he brought great speed and a heavy shot,” added Huska, “so when we went after Geordie we got some of the same things as well as a guy that could help us out with his size and aggressiveness.”
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r In Wudrick, the Rockets have a veteran player that could potentially fill one of three over-age spots on next season’s roster. Then again, the club also knows a player of Wudrick’s potential could easily sign a pro deal and not be back for 2010-11.
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r Either way, the third-round draft pick of the Los Angeles Kings in 2008 is excited about the opportunities that wearing a Kelowna Rockets uniform presents.
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r “This is an organization that has a reputation for breeding NHL players, so it’s an awesome place for any player who has that dream,” said Wudrick. “I definitely think being here will help me big time. If I do get a chance to sign and play pro that would be nice, but if not this is a great place to play. I’d be happy to come back next year, too.” Rocket Shots…The Rockets (12-13-1-0) will visit the B.C. Division rival Chilliwack Bruins (11-12-1-4) tonight for the fourth time this season. Kelowna has won the previous three meetings by a cumulative score of 16-6…The Kootenay Ice will pay their only visit of the season to Prospera Place on Saturday when they battle the Rockets in a 7 p.m. start…Kelowna Minor Hockey product Dustin Sylvester leads the Ice with 10 goals.
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