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8 Kelowna Rockets invited to NHL rookie camps

Eight Kelowna Rockets are set to take part in NHL rookie camps in the coming days.
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Kelowna Rockets forward Tij Iginla (left) celebrates his second period goal with Andrew Cristall (middle) and Gabriel Szturc (right) in the team91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s 6-3 win against Swift Current on Wednesday, Oct. 18 at Prospera Place. (@Kelowna_Rockets/X)

Eight Kelowna Rockets are set to take part in NHL rookie camps in the coming days.

Tij Iginla - Utah Hockey Club

The 18-year-old was selected sixth overall by Utah in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft in June, the first-ever draft choice in team history. Utah is the newest team to the NHL after the Arizona Coyotes relocated to beehive state. 

Last season with the Rockets, Iginla was second on the team with 84 points (47 goals, 37 assists) in 64 games. 

Utah's rookie camp starts last week and leads into the Rookie Faceoff, which is a showcase event where rookies from Utah, the Los Angeles Kings, Anaheim Ducks, Seattle Kraken, Colorado Avalanche, San Jose Sharks, and Vegas Golden Knights play against each other from Sept. 13-16

Andrew Cristall - Washington Capitals

The Rockets leading scorer from a year ago, Cristall is attending his second rookie camp with the Capitals, who drafted him in the second round (40th overall) in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.

With 111 points (40 goals, 71 assists) in 62 games last season, Cristall led the Rockets in scoring.

Caden Price - Seattle Kraken

Price is also attending his second rookie camp with the Seattle Kraken. The defenceman was selected by the Emerald City in the third round (84th overall) in the 2023 NHL Entry Draft.

His 55 points from the blueline were the most by a defenceman on the Rockets last season.

Hiroki Gojsic - Nashville Predators

Gojsic is one of three Rockets set to lace up the skates at their first rookie camp. The Langley native was drafted by the Nashville Predators in the third round (94th overall) in the 2024 NHL Draft.

In his rookie season in the WHL, Gojsic collected 50 points (21 goals, 29 assists) in 68 games.

Max Graham - New Jersey Devils

Graham is the third and final Rocket attending their first-ever rookie camp, he was the New Jersey Devils fifth-round selection (139th overall) in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft.

He was sixth on the Rockets with 42 points last season and led the team in penalty minutes with 135.

Jakub Stancl - St. Louis Blues

A selection by the Rockets in the 2023 CHL Import Draft, Stancl hasn't played in the WHL yet but was drafted by the St. Louis Blues in 2023 (fourth round, 106th overall). It is his second rookie camp with the Blues.

Ethan Neutens - Los Angeles Kings

Neutens, undrafted, was invited to rookie camp by the Kings. In two seasons with the Rockets, he has 25 points in 123 games.

Carter Kowalyk - Carolina Hurricanes

The big name at the back end, Kowalyk also has an undrafted invite to rookie camp. Kelowna acquired the defenceman from Edmonton in a trade last season. In 26 games, he had seven points for the Rockets last season.

It's unknown at this time what the Rockets opening line roster on Saturday, Sept. 21 will look like as some players might get an extended invite to their team's regular training camp.

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Jordy Cunningham

About the Author: Jordy Cunningham

Hailing from Ladner, B.C., I have been passionate about sports, especially baseball, since I was young. In 2018, I graduated from Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops with a Bachelor of Journalism degree
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