Rockets own 1st overall pick in WHL Prospects Draft

The Kelowna Rockets are heading into the WHL Prospects Draft with a rare piece of franchise history, the first overall pick.

At Thursday night’s WHL lottery in Calgary, Kelowna officially secured the top selection for draft taking place May 6-7. It’s just the second time the organization has picked first overall since relocating to Kelowna, with the only previous instance coming back in 1991, when the franchise was still based in Tacoma, Washington, as the Tacoma Rockets.

The pick itself carries even more weight after Kelowna acquired it in a major trade last January that sent defenceman Caden Price to the Lethbridge Hurricanes.

Rockets assistant general manager Curtis Hamilton said the result gives the club options as it heads toward draft day.

“There are some really high-end players at the top,” Hamilton said. “It gives us flexibility, whether that’s selecting a player who can impact our future or potentially exploring trade opportunities.”

He added that the organization will keep all possibilities open as the draft approaches.

“We’re going to be open to both sides of it and just listen,” Hamilton said. “But we’ll certainly evaluate these players closely because it’s a big opportunity for us.”

With an older roster already built for a push, and Kelowna hosting the Memorial Cup, Hamilton noted the value of adding a top-end prospect into the mix.

“It’s a chance to inject a high-end player into the group,” he said. “That’s huge for the team and for our fans.”

Now, with the draft order set for the first week of May, Hamilton said the next month will be all about scouting and final evaluations.

“We’ll be busy with provincial camps,” he said. “It’s about crossing the T’s, dotting the I’s, and really turning over every stone to make sure we know exactly how the board will fall.”

On the value of the pick, Hamilton was clear that interest from other teams is part of the process.

“The price would be high,” he said. “You’re talking about special players at the top. We’ll always listen, but if we’re picking, it’s going to be a big-time player.”

The Rockets open up the post season at home to Kamloops, Friday.

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