As one of the busiest teams leading up to the Western Hockey ³¢±ð²¹²µ³Ü±ð91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s trade deadline, the Kelowna ¸é´Ç³¦°ì±ð³Ù²õ91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™ intentions ³¦´Ç³Ü±ô»å²Ô91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™t have been any clearer.
GM Bruce Hamilton and assistant GM Lorne Frey have equipped the ³¦±ô³Ü²ú91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s coaching staff with what they envision to be a championship-calibre roster.
With the additions of proven sniper and power forward Hamilton hopes the balance of power in the WHL has shifted in his ³Ù±ð²¹³¾91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s favour.
91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵœW±ð just feel with the core group that we have, with quite a few guys here that went to the Memorial Cup, we wanted to give them another shot at winning a league ³¦³ó²¹³¾±è¾±´Ç²Ô²õ³ó¾±±è,91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ said Hamilton.
91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵœW±ð feel like ³Ù³ó±ð°ù±ð91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s a chance do that. °Â±ð91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™v±ð added as much as we can, because there ²¹°ù±ð²Ô91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™t too many bullets left in the ³¦³ó²¹³¾²ú±ð°ù.91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ
In acquiring Gardiner, the Rockets surrendered three draft picks to the Prince Albert Raiders, including a conditional first-rounder.
Kelowna also had to move Riley Stadel, 20, to the Edmonton Oil Kings to make room for Gardiner to occupy one of three overage spots.
Gardiner, who scored 43 goals last season in P.A., played the first half of this season with Wilkes Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League.
91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵœH±ð91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s an exciting ±è±ô²¹²â±ð°ù,91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ Hamilton said of Gardiner, 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵœa pure goal scorer with some pro ±ð³æ±è±ð°ù¾±±ð²Ô³¦±ð.91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ
The Humboldt, SK native had the option of playing pro for the remainder of the season, but viewed coming to Kelowna as an opportunity he ³¦´Ç³Ü±ô»å²Ô91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™t pass up.
91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵœJ³Ü²õ³Ù the team itself, coming to a place like Kelowna, the city, the fans, ¾±³Ù91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s all pretty special,91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ said Gardiner, 20, who scored his first goal as a Rocket Saturday at home to Kamloops. 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵœT³ó±ð²â develop players, you can see by their alumnus, guys in world juniors and even winning championships.
91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵÀá wanted to come and be a part of that as much as I could and help build this ³Ù°ù²¹»å¾±³Ù¾±´Ç²Ô.91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ
As an added bonus, Gardiner gets a chance to play with his younger brother, Erik, for the first time in their careers. The Rockets acquired the 17-year-old forward in November from the Regina Pats.
91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵœC´Ç³¾¾±²Ô²µ here to play with my brother was a big part of ¾±³Ù,91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ Reid said. 91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵœT´Ç be able to be able to share this experience with him is special, and to be here and bug him the odd time is good, ³Ù´Ç´Ç.91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ
On Sunday, the Rockets added Twarynski, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound forward from the Calgary Hitmen in exchange for forward Jake Kryski.
The Calgary native is a third-round draft pick of the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers.
Twarynski, who will bring both skill and physicality to the Rockets, is excited to be joining one of the °Â±á³¢91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s most successful franchises in what is arguably the ±ô±ð²¹²µ³Ü±ð91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s most competitive division.
91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵœT´Ç be told I was going here, I was definitely happy to hear that, that they were going to try and take a run at ¾±³Ù,91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ Twarynski, 19, said Monday after his first practise with the Rockets.
91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵÀá think ¾±³Ù91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s awesome I want to win this year, ³Ù³ó±ð°ù±ð91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s no telling what next year is going to bring for me. To be on a team like this is good, and to be in a division where ³Ù³ó±ð°ù±ð91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s a lot of fun hockey right now," added Twarynski, who had 10 goals and 21 points in 36 games with Calgary.
91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵÀát91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s close, ²¹²Ô²â´Ç²Ô±ð91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ™s game, but this team definitely has the capabilities to do ¾±³Ù.91ÂãÁÄÊÓƵ
The Rockets (24-15-3-0), with their newly-configured roster, are on the road this week, with games in Victoria tonight and Friday against the division rival Royals.
On Monday afternoon, Kelowna will visit the Everett Silvertips.