Kelowna Rockets

{{short description|Western Hockey League team in Kelowna, British Columbia}}

{{Use mdy dates|date=April 2024}}

{{Use Canadian English|date=April 2024}}

{{Infobox hockey team

| team = Kelowna Rockets

| colour = background:#FFFFFF; border-top:#008394 5px solid; border-bottom:#E13A3E 5px solid;

| colour text = #000000

| logo = Kelowna Rockets logo.svg

| city = Kelowna, British Columbia

| league = Western Hockey League

| conference = Western

| division = B.C.

| founded = {{Start date|1991}}

| arena = Prospera Place

| colours = Teal, Red, Copper, Black, White
{{Color box|#008394}} {{Color box|#E13A3E}} {{Color box|#B98544}} {{Color box|#000}} {{Color box|#FFF}}

| owner = Bruce Hamilton

| GM = Bruce Hamilton

| coach = Derrick Martin (interim)

| championships = Memorial Cup
1 (2004)
Ed Chynoweth Cup
4 (2003, 2005, 2009, 2015)
Conference Championships
4 (2002–03, 2004–05, 2008–09, 2014–15)

|reg_season_titles=3 (2002–03, 2003–04, 2013–14)

| website = [https://chl.ca/whl-rockets/ chl.ca/whl-rockets]

| name1 = Tacoma Rockets

| dates1 = 1991–1995

| name2 = Kelowna Rockets

| dates2 = 1995–present

| uniform_image=WHL-Uniform-KEL.png}}

The Kelowna Rockets are a Canadian major junior ice hockey team based in Kelowna, British Columbia. The team plays in the B.C Division of the Western Hockey League's Western Conference, playing their home games at Prospera Place. The Rockets are the most successful WHL team in the twenty-first century, winning three regular season titles and four playoff championships. The team has also played in the Memorial Cup finals three times, winning once, in 2004, when Kelowna hosted the tournament.

Franchise history

= Foundations =

The club was established in 1991 as the Tacoma Rockets, playing in Tacoma, Washington.{{Cite web |title=WHL History |url=https://whl.ca/history |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230731211503/https://whl.ca/history |archive-date=2023-07-31 |access-date=2023-07-31 |website=Western Hockey League}} The team played four seasons in Tacoma under head coach Marcel Comeau, who was named the league and the Canadian Hockey League's coach-of-the-year for 1992–93, although the team won only one playoff round.{{cite web |title=1972 NHL Amateur Draft – Marcel Comeau |url=http://www.hockeydraftcentral.com/1972/72148.html |access-date=2018-09-30 |website=Hockey Draft Central}} With the Tacoma Dome offering poor sight lines for hockey and attendance low, the team was sold and relocated to Kelowna in 1995. In Kelowna, the team spent its first four seasons playing at Kelowna Memorial Arena while a new, purpose-built arena—Prospera Place—was being constructed; the team moved to the completed arena in 1999.{{Cite web |last=Jordan |first=Kevin |date=2022-10-15 |title=Kelowna Rockets |url=https://www.whlarenaguide.com/rockets.htm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230607061627/https://www.whlarenaguide.com/rockets.htm |archive-date=2023-06-07 |access-date=2024-05-17 |website=WHL Arena Guide}}

= Rise to prominence =

Coached by Marc Habscheid and led on the ice by the likes of Jesse Schultz, Josh Gorges, Shea Weber, and goaltender Kelly Guard, the Rockets emerged as a contending team just after the turn of the century.{{Cite news |last=Vanstone |first=Rob |date=2022-01-28 |title=Seeds for Habscheid's success were planted on the family farm |url=https://leaderpost.com/sports/hockey/seeds-for-habscheids-success-were-planted-on-the-family-farm |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220129012207/https://leaderpost.com/sports/hockey/seeds-for-habscheids-success-were-planted-on-the-family-farm |archive-date=2022-01-29 |access-date=2024-05-17 |work=Regina Leader-Post}} In 2002–03, the team won its first Scotty Munro Memorial Trophy as regular season champions with a 51-win, 109-point season. In the playoffs, they defeated the Red Deer Rebels in the final to win their first President's Cup as league champions. At the 2003 Memorial Cup, Kelowna advanced to the semi-final, which they lost 2–1 to the Hull Olympiques. In 2004, the Rockets repeated as regular season champions before losing the Western Conference final to the expansion Everett Silvertips. However, Kelowna was able to participate in the 2004 Memorial Cup by virtue of hosting the tournament. At the tournament, the Rockets surrendered only three goals in four games en route to the championship, avenging the previous year's defeat to the Olympiques in the final, with Guard being named tournament MVP.{{Cite news |date=2020-02-28 |title=Rockets remember 2004 Memorial Cup |url=https://chl.ca/whl/rockets-remember-2004-memorial-cup/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517195822/https://chl.ca/whl/rockets-remember-2004-memorial-cup/ |archive-date=2024-05-17 |access-date=2024-05-17 |work=Canadian Hockey League}}{{Cite news |last=Thom |first=Shelby |date=2018-04-19 |title=Kelowna Rockets will bid to host 2020 Memorial Cup |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/4155943/kelowna-rockets-will-bid-to-host-2020-memorial-cup/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180420005220/https://globalnews.ca/news/4155943/kelowna-rockets-will-bid-to-host-2020-memorial-cup/ |archive-date=2018-04-20 |access-date=2024-05-17 |work=Global News}}

In 2004–05, the Rockets finished second overall in the standings to the Kootenay Ice, who they defeated in the Western Conference final to advance to championship series.{{Cite news |last=Kerr |first=Grant |date=2005-03-23 |title=Rookie head coach maintains the Rockets' glare |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/rookie-head-coach-maintains-the-rockets-glare/article977457/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517195258/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/rookie-head-coach-maintains-the-rockets-glare/article977457/ |archive-date=2024-05-17 |access-date=2024-05-17 |work=The Globe and Mail}} There, the defeated the Brandon Wheat Kings for their second President's Cup in three seasons, and a berth in their third straight Memorial Cup tournament.{{Cite news |last=Duhatschek |first=Eric |date=2005-05-19 |title=Rent-a-goalie tradition goes way back |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/rent-a-goalie-tradition-goes-way-back/article1330455/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201111183247/https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/rent-a-goalie-tradition-goes-way-back/article1330455/ |archive-date=2020-11-11 |access-date=2024-05-17 |work=The Globe and Mail}} However, at the 2005 Memorial Cup, the Rockets dropped three straight games and were eliminated.

= Continued success =

The 2006–07 season saw the Rockets miss the playoffs for the first time in team history, but the team's struggles would be short-lived. The 2008–09 season saw the Rockets, led by Tyler Myers, Jamie Benn, and Tyson Barrie, advance to their third league final, where they defeated the Calgary Hitmen.{{Cite news |date=2009-05-10 |title=Kelowna Rockets win WHL title |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/kelowna-rockets-win-whl-title-1.796596 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160308031954/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/kelowna-rockets-win-whl-title-1.796596 |archive-date=2016-03-08 |access-date=2024-05-17 |work=CBC Sports}} Benn led the 2009 Memorial Cup tournament in scoring, and the Rockets earned a spot in the final; however, they lost 4–1 to the Windsor Spitfires.{{Cite news |date=2009-05-24 |title=Windsor Spitfires win Memorial Cup for 1st time |url=https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/windsor-spitfires-win-memorial-cup-for-1st-time-1.820047 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220617113510/https://www.cbc.ca/sports/hockey/windsor-spitfires-win-memorial-cup-for-1st-time-1.820047 |archive-date=2022-06-17 |access-date=2024-05-17 |work=CBC Sports}}

From 2013–14 to 2016–17, the Rockets advanced to four consecutive Western Conference finals. They won once, in 2015, moving on to defeat the Wheat Kings in the final.{{Cite news |date=2015-05-14 |title=Kelowna Rockets sweep Brandon Wheat Kings to win WHL, advance to Memorial Cup |url=https://thehockeynews.com/news/kelowna-rockets-sweep-brandon-wheat-kings-to-win-whl-advance-to-memorial-cup |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220527001820/https://thehockeynews.com/news/kelowna-rockets-sweep-brandon-wheat-kings-to-win-whl-advance-to-memorial-cup |archive-date=2022-05-27 |access-date=2024-05-17 |work=The Hockey News |publisher=Sports Illustrated}} Led by tournament MVP Leon Draistaitl, the Rockets made a third finals appearance at the 2015 Memorial Cup, but lost 2–1 in overtime to the Oshawa Generals.{{Cite news |date=2015-05-31 |title=Generals down Rockets in OT to win Memorial Cup |url=https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/juniors/generals-down-rockets-in-ot-to-win-memorial-cup/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150602040902/https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/juniors/generals-down-rockets-in-ot-to-win-memorial-cup/ |archive-date=2015-06-02 |access-date=2024-05-17 |work=Sportsnet |agency=Canadian Press}}

The Rockets missed the playoffs for a second time in 2018–19. The team was set to host the Memorial Cup for the second time in 2020; however, the tournament was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.{{Cite news |date=2020-03-23 |title=2020 Memorial Cup, CHL playoffs cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic |url=https://globalnews.ca/news/6721107/coronavirus-chl-playoffs-memorial-cup-cancelled/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200324013810/https://globalnews.ca/news/6721107/coronavirus-chl-playoffs-memorial-cup-cancelled/ |archive-date=2020-03-24 |access-date=2024-05-17 |work=Global News |agency=The Canadian Press}} In 2023–24, led by Tij Iginla, the Rockets won their first playoff series in seven years, defeating the Wenatchee Wild before losing in the second round to the Prince George Cougars.{{Cite news |last=Bednorz |first=Paige |date=2024-04-20 |title=Cougars eliminate Rockets in Game 5 |url=https://pgdailynews.ca/index.php/2024/04/20/cougars-eliminate-rockets-in-game-5/ |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240517193112/https://pgdailynews.ca/index.php/2024/04/20/cougars-eliminate-rockets-in-game-5/ |archive-date=2024-05-17 |access-date=2024-05-17 |work=Prince George Daily News}}

Team uniforms

Since 2000, the Rockets' uniforms have featured a logo based on the legendary Okanagan Lake monster, Ogopogo. A third jersey design features the monster's head, taken from their shoulder patch design. The team's colours—carried over from their days in Tacoma—are teal, red, copper, black, and white. In 2009, their jerseys were slightly modified to fit the Reebok Edge system.{{Cite web|url=http://www.whl.ca/article/chl-whl-and-reebok-hockey-launch-new-edge-uniform-system|title = CHL, WHL and Reebok Hockey launch new EDGE Uniform System – WHL Network}}

File:Tacoma Rockets urban art (cropped).jpg|Rendering of the Tacoma Rockets logo, c. 1991–1994.

File:Kelowna Rockets logo (1995—98).svg|The original Kelowna logo, based on Tacoma's, c. 1995–2000.

{{Clear}}

Season-by-season record

File:JT Barnett Kelowna Rockets.png

Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against, PIM = Penalties in minutes

class="wikitable" style="text-align: center"
style="border-top:#008394 5px solid; border-bottom:#E13A3E 5px solid"

! Season

! GP

! W

! L

! T

! OTL

! GF

! GA

! Points

! Finish

! Playoffs

1995–96

| 72

| 35

| 33

| 4

| –

| 338

| 309

| 74

| 4th West

| Lost Western Conference quarterfinal

bgcolor="#EEEEEE"

| 1996–97

| 72

| 35

| 35

| 2

| –

| 298

| 314

| 72

| 4th West

| Lost Western Conference quarterfinal

1997–98

| 72

| 33

| 35

| 4

| –

| 234

| 253

| 70

| 5th West

| Lost Western Conference quarterfinal

bgcolor="#EEEEEE"

| 1998–99

| 72

| 25

| 42

| 5

| –

| 224

| 282

| 55

| 6th West

| Lost Western Conference quarterfinal

1999–00

| 72

| 25

| 40

| 4

| 3

| 193

| 228

| 57

| 5th West

| Lost Western Conference quarterfinal

bgcolor="#EEEEEE"

| 2000–01

| 72

| 37

| 23

| 7

| 5

| 259

| 240

| 86

| 1st West

| Lost Western Conference quarterfinal

2001–02

| 72

| 31

| 26

| 10

| 5

| 257

| 232

| 77

| 4th B.C.

| Lost Western Conference final

bgcolor="#EEEEEE"

| 2002–03

| 72

| 51

| 14

| 6

| 1

| 311

| 164

| 109

| 1st B.C.

| Won Championship

2003–04

| 72

| 47

| 21

| 4

| 0

| 185

| 125

| 98

| 1st B.C.

| Lost Western Conference final; Won Memorial Cup

bgcolor="#EEEEEE"

| 2004–05

| 72

| 45

| 13

| 12

| 2

| 215

| 139

| 104

| 2nd B.C.

| Won Championship

bgcolor=

| 2005–06

| 72

| 46

| 22

| 1

| 3

| 243

| 188

| 96

| 2nd B.C.

| Lost Western Conference semifinal

bgcolor="#EEEEEE"

| 2006–07

| 72

| 22

| 41

| 5

| 2

| 156

| 245

| 53

| 5th B.C.

| Out of playoffs

2007–08

| 72

| 38

| 26

| 2

| 6

| 248

| 215

| 84

| 2nd B.C.

| Lost Western Conference quarterfinal

bgcolor="#EEEEEE"

| 2008–09

| 72

| 47

| 21

| 1

| 3

| 267

| 178

| 98

| 2nd B.C.

| Won Championship; lost Memorial Cup final

2009–10

| 72

| 35

| 31

| 2

| 4

| 224

| 225

| 76

| 2nd B.C.

| Lost Western Conference semifinal

bgcolor="#eeeeee"

| 2010–11

| 72

| 43

| 28

| 0

| 1

| 240

| 201

| 87

| 1st B.C.

| Lost Western Conference semifinal

2011–12

| 72

| 31

| 31

| 4

| 6

| 217

| 242

| 72

| 3rd B.C.

| Lost Western Conference quarterfinal

bgcolor="#eeeeee"

| 2012–13

| 72

| 52

| 16

| 3

| 1

| 309

| 178

| 108

| 1st B.C.

| Lost Western Conference semifinal

2013–14

| 72

| 57

| 11

| 0

| 4

| 310

| 182

| 118

| 1st B.C.

| Lost Western Conference final

bgcolor="#eeeeee"

| 2014–15

| 72

| 53

| 13

| 5

| 1

| 305

| 183

| 112

| 1st B.C.

| Won Championship; lost Memorial Cup final

bgcolor=

| 2015–16

| 72

| 48

| 20

| 4

| 0

| 269

| 218

| 100

| 2nd B.C.

| Lost Western Conference final

bgcolor="#eeeeee"

| 2016–17

| 72

| 45

| 22

| 5

| 0

| 283

| 206

| 95

| 2nd B.C.

| Lost Western Conference final

bgcolor=

| 2017–18

| 72

| 43

| 22

| 5

| 2

| 280

| 249

| 93

| 1st B.C.

| Lost Western Conference quarterfinal

bgcolor="#eeeeee"

| 2018–19

| 68

| 28

| 32

| 6

| 2

| 169

| 209

| 64

| 4th B.C.

| Lost tie-breaker game to Kamloops
Out of playoffs

bgcolor=

| 2019–20

| 63

| 29

| 28

| 3

| 3

| 181

| 208

| 64

| 4th B.C.

| Cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic

bgcolor="#eeeeee"

| 2020–21

| 16

| 10

| 5

| 1

| 0

| 58

| 53

| 21

| 3rd B.C.

| No playoffs held due to COVID-19 pandemic

2021–22

| 68

| 42

| 20

| 1

| 5

| 250

| 207

| 90

| 2nd B.C.

| Lost Western Conference quarterfinal

bgcolor="#eeeeee"

| 2022–23

| 68

| 27

| 37

| 4

| 0

| 210

| 256

| 58

| 4th B.C.

| Lost Western Conference quarterfinal

2023–24

| 68

| 33

| 30

| 4

| 1

| 250

| 258

| 71

| 2nd B.C.

| Lost Western Conference semifinal

bgcolor="#eeeeee"

| 2024–25

| 68

| 18

| 44

| 4

| 2

| 213

| 311

| 42

| 5th B.C.

| Did not qualify

Championship history

{{unsourced-section|date=August 2024}}

= WHL Championship series =

= Memorial Cup finals =

NHL alumni

See also

References

{{Reflist}}