August 20, 2013 - 11:44 AM
Young prospects from all over Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest, along with their families, are arriving in Kelowna this week to take part in one of the biggest Kelowna Rockets rookie camps ever.
Players will be split into 10 teams and will hit the ice for two games a day beginning on Thursday morning at 7:30 a.m. at Prospera Place, under the watchful eye of Rockets management, scouts and coaching staff.
Head scout Lorne Frey says they will be looking for several things out of the players that will attend rookie camp.
"We're always looking for size, I think that's important," said Frey. "We're looking for competitiveness and
consistency, which is hard to find at this age level. We want players that think the game well and have puck sense. That's part of the game you can't teach."
Among the players, the majority of which are born in 1998 and will be heading back to minor hockey, are most of the Rockets draft picks from this year's WHL Bantam Draft, including first round pick Dillon Dube, a slick centre from Cochrane, AB the Rockets picked with the 21st overall pick in the draft.
A few injuries are starting to keep players at home, including second round pick Cal Foote, the son of former NHLer Adam Foote, who is injured and will not attend camp.
Eighth round pick Connor Bowey arrives in Kelowna with a familiar name as the younger brother of Rockets star Madison Bowey. Like many players, the younger Bowey, a defenceman just like his older brother, is looking to attract scouts' attention and add size over the next year or so.
Games at rookie camp start at 7:30 a.m. from Thursday to Sunday before camp closes. The Rockets main training camp begins next Monday heading to the team's first WHL exhibition game Aug. 30 at Prospera Place.
Tickets for the Rockets exhibition games are on sale at www.selectyourtickets.com.
News from © iNFOnews, 2013