Image Credit: Marissa Baecker
October 13, 2016 - 9:49 AM
KELOWNA - Former Kelowna Rockets are hitting the ice in the NHL in big numbers this year, with veteran players being joined by a handful of newcomers to the NHL fraternity.
Fifteen former Rockets are on NHL rosters at the start of the hockey season including recent former captain Colton Sissons (Nashville) as well as stalwarts Shea Weber, now with the Montreal Canadiens and Josh Gorges of Buffalo.
Veteran Vern Fiddler, who has played over 800 games over a 15-year career, is back on the Devils opening night roster.
“We’re very proud to see so many of our alumni make it to the NHL and have success,” said Rockets president and GM Bruce Hamilton. “To be able to turn on the television and see so many of our former players is a real treat for our organization and for our fans. We take a a lot of pride in developing hockey players and young men who can find success at all levels of hockey.”
Nine of the former Rockets are defencemen including Josh Morrissey (Winnipeg), who played 57 games in the AHL but made the Jets out of training camp, and Damon Severson, who is now going into his third season with New Jersey.
Of course when it comes to Rockets D-men in the NHL, Duncan Keith (Chicago) leads the way as one of the top defenders in the NHL while others are right in the mix as well, coming out of the so-called defense factory in Kelowna.
Tyson Barrie (Colorado), Luke Schenn (Arizona), Tyler Myers (Winnipeg) and Alexander Edler (Vancouver) will all be important members of their respective teams bluelines.
Up front Jamie Benn (Dallas) is considered one of the top scoring threats in the NHL while Leon Draisaitl will look to improve on a 51 point rookie season with Edmonton. Mikael Backlund (Calgary) and Blake Comeau (Colorado) round out a considerable list.
The Rockets 15 players help make up a total of 132 WHL alumni on National Hockey League opening night rosters for the 2016-2017 regular season.
Below is the complete list of WHL Alumni who are on NHL opening day rosters for the 2016-17 season:
Anaheim Ducks (2)
Ryan Getzlaf, F – Calgary Hitmen
Clayton Stoner, D – Tri-City Americans
Arizona Coyotes (5)
Shane Doan, F – Kamloops Blazers
Martin Hanzal, F – Red Deer Rebels
Jordan Martinook, F – Vancouver Giants
Luke Schenn, D – Kelowna Rockets
Ryan White, F – Calgary Hitmen
Boston Bruins (4)
Brandon Carlo, D – Tri-City Americans
Zdeno Chara, D – Prince George Cougars
Anton Khudobin, G – Saskatoon Blades
Joe Morrow, D – Portland Winterhawks
Buffalo Sabres (5)
Tyler Ennis, F – Medicine Hat Tigers
Cody Franson, D – Vancouver Giants
Josh Gorges, D – Kelowna Rockets
Evander Kane, F – Vancouver Giants
Sam Reinhart, F – Kootenay ICE
Calgary Flames (7)
Mikael Backlund, F – Kelowna Rockets
Lance Bouma, F – Vancouver Giants
Troy Brouwer, F – Moose Jaw Warriors
Deryk Engelland, D – Moose Jaw Warriors
Micheal Ferland, F – Brandon Wheat Kings/Saskatoon Blades
Brett Kulak, D – Vancouver Giants
Kris Versteeg, F – Lethbridge Hurricanes/Kamloops Blazers/Red Deer Rebels
Carolina Hurricanes (2)
Victor Rask, F – Calgary Hitmen
Cam Ward, G – Red Deer Rebels
Chicago Blackhawks (5)
Marian Hossa, F – Portland Winterhawks
Duncan Keith, D – Kelowna Rockets
Michal Rozsival, D – Swift Current Broncos
Brent Seabrook, D – Lethbridge Hurricanes
Jordin Tootoo, F – Brandon Wheat Kings
Colorado Avalanche (5)
Tyson Barrie, D – Kelowna Rockets
Blake Comeau, F – Kelowna Rockets
Jarome Iginla, F – Kamloops Blazers
Cody McLeod, F – Portland Winterhawks
Calvin Pickard, G – Seattle Thunderbirds
Columbus Blue Jackets (6)
Oliver Bjorkstrand, F – Portland Winterhawks
Matt Calvert, F – Brandon Wheat Kings
Brandon Dubinsky, F – Portland Winterhawks
Scott Hartnell, F – Prince Albert Raiders
Seth Jones, D – Portland Winterhawks
Ryan Murray, D – Everett Silvertips
Dallas Stars (4)
Jamie Benn, F – Kelowna Rockets
Adam Cracknell, F – Kootenay ICE
Cody Eakin, F* – Swift Current Broncos/Kootenay ICE
Dan Hamhuis, D – Prince George Cougars
Detroit Red Wings (2)
Mike Green, D – Saskatoon Blades
Darren Helm, F – Medicine Hat Tigers
Edmonton Oil Kings (8)
Brandon Davidson, D – Regina Pats
Leon Draisaitl, F – Prince Albert Raiders/Kelowna Rockets
Jordan Eberle, F – Regina Pats
Milan Lucic, F – Vancouver Giants
Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, F – Red Deer Rebels
Tyler Pitlick, F – Medicine Hat Tigers
Kris Russell, D – Medicine Hat Tigers
Andrew Ference, D* – Portland Winterhawks
Florida Panthers (5)
Shane Harper, F – Everett Silvertips
Alex Petrovic, D – Red Deer Rebels
Mark Pysyk, D – Edmonton Oil Kings
James Reimer, G – Red Deer Rebels
Colton Sceviour, F – Portland Winterhawks/Lethbridge Hurricanes
Los Angeles Kings (3)
Dwight King, F – Lethbridge Hurricanes
Brayden McNabb, D – Kootenay ICE
Devin Setoguchi, F – Saskatoon Blades/Prince George Cougars
Minnesota Wild (6)
Devan Dubnyk, G – Kamloops Blazers
Matt Dumba, D – Red Deer Rebels
Darcy Kuemper, G – Red Deer Rebels
Nino Niederreiter, F – Portland Winterhawks
Jared Spurgeon, D – Spokane Chiefs
Victor Bartley, D* – Kamloops Blazers/Regina Pats
Montreal Canadiens (3)
Brendan Gallagher, F – Vancouver Giants
Carey Price, G – Tri-City Americans
Shea Weber, D – Kelowna Rockets
Nashville Predators (2)
Ryan Johansen, F – Portland Winterhawks
Colton Sissons, F – Kelowna Rockets
New Jersey Devils (2)
Vernon Fiddler, F – Kelowna Rockets/Medicine Hat Tigers
Damon Severson, D – Kelowna Rockets
New York Islanders (6)
Mathew Barzal, F – Seattle Thunderbirds
Johnny Boychuk, D – Calgary Hitmen/Moose Jaw Warriors
Jason Chimera, F – Medicine Hat Tigers/Brandon Wheat Kings
Travis Hamonic, D – Moose Jaw Warriors/Brandon Wheat Kings
Thomas Hickey, D – Seattle Thunderbirds
Andrew Ladd, F – Calgary Hitmen
New York Rangers (2)
Michael Grabner, F – Spokane Chiefs
Nick Holden, D – Chilliwack Bruins
Dylan McIlrath, D – Moose Jaw Warriors
Ottawa Senators (4)
Clarke MacArthur, F* – Medicine Hat Tigers
Dion Phaneuf, D – Red Deer Rebels
Zack Smith, F – Swift Current Broncos
Mark Stone, F – Brandon Wheat Kings
Philadelphia Flyers (8)
Boyd Gordon, F – Red Deer Rebels
Radko Gudas, D – Everett Silvertips
Brandon Manning, D – Chilliwack Bruins
Ivan Provorov, D – Brandon Wheat Kings
Brayden Schenn, F – Brandon Wheat Kings/Saskatoon Blades
Nick Schultz, D – Prince Albert Raiders
Jordan Weal, F – Regina Pats
Dale Weise, F – Swift Current Broncos
Pittsburgh Penguins (2)
Eric Fehr, F – Brandon Wheat Kings
Derrick Pouliot, D – Portland Winterhawks
San Jose Sharks (4)
Brenden Dillon, D – Seattle Thunderbirds
Martin Jones, G – Calgary Hitmen
Patrick Marleau, F – Seattle Thunderbirds
David Schlemko, D – Medicine Hat Tigers
St. Louis Blues (6)
Jay Bouwmeester, D – Medicine Hat Tigers
Kyle Brodziak, F – Moose Jaw Warriors
Joel Edmundson, D – Moose Jaw Warriors, Kamloops Blazers
Ty Rattie, F – Portland Winterhawks
Ryan Reaves, F – Brandon Wheat Kings
Scottie Upshall, F – Kamloops Blazers
Tampa Bay Lightning (3)
Braydon Coburn, D – Portland Winterhawks
Tyler Johnson, F – Spokane Chiefs
Brayden Point, F – Moose Jaw Warriors
Toronto Maple Leafs (4)
Joffrey Lupul, F* – Medicine Hat Tigers
Martin Marincin, D – Prince George Cougars/Regina Pats
Roman Polak, D – Kootenay ICE
Morgan Rielly, D – Moose Jaw Warriors
Vancouver Canucks (8)
Sven Baertschi, F – Portland Winterhawks
Derek Dorsett, F – Medicine Hat Tigers
Alexander Edler, D – Kelowna Rockets
Emerson Etem, F – Medicine Hat Tigers
Jannik Hanse, F – Portland Winterhawks
Luca Sbisa, D – Lethbridge Hurricanes/Portland Winterhawks
Brandon Sutter, F – Red Deer Rebels
Jake Virtanen, F – Calgary Hitmen
Washington Capitals (3)
Karl Alzner, D – Calgary Hitmen
Brett Connolly, F – Prince George Cougars
Braden Holtby, G – Saskatoon Blades
Winnipeg Jets (5)
Dustin Byfuglien, D – Brandon Wheat Kings/Prince George Cougars
Adam Lowry, F – Swift Current Broncos
Josh Morrissey, D – Prince Albert Raiders/Kelowna Rockets
Tyler Myers, D – Kelowna Rockets
Paul Postma, D – Swift Current Broncos/Calgary Hitmen
*Denotes player on injured reserve
News from © iNFOnews, 2016