TRANSACTION: Rockets Release Forward Daniel Pekar

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TRANSACTION: Rockets Release Forward Daniel Pekar

Category: ArticleJanuary 26, 2026

KELOWNA, BC — The Kelowna Rockets announced today that forward Daniel Pekar has been released from the team after deciding to return to Czechia to continue his hockey career.

Pekar, 19, appeared in 32 games with the Rockets during the 2025–26 WHL season, recording 8 points (4G, 4A) along with 11 penalty minutes. The Rockets drafted Pekar 7th overall in the first round of the 2025 CHL Import Draft.

The Kelowna Rockets would like to wish Daniel the best in his move back to Czechia.

WHL Standings

Eastern Conference

East Division

Rank Team GP W PTS PCT

1

55

42

89

0.809

2

55

32

65

0.591

3

56

27

60

0.536

4

53

20

47

0.443

5

55

19

45

0.409

6

54

13

32

0.296

Central Division

Rank Team GP W PTS PCT

1

54

37

82

0.759

2

54

36

77

0.713

3

53

31

69

0.651

4

54

21

46

0.426

5

55

16

34

0.309

Western Conference

B.C. Division

Rank Team GP W PTS PCT

1

54

35

78

0.722

2

54

32

66

0.611

3

54

29

65

0.602

4

55

25

61

0.555

5

53

23

54

0.509

6

55

20

43

0.391

U.S. Division

Rank Team GP W PTS PCT

1

55

45

93

0.845

2

54

27

55

0.509

3

54

25

55

0.509

4

53

25

54

0.509

5

52

22

51

0.490

6

55

21

47

0.427

PLAYER STATS

View All

Player	G	A	PTS	+/-
Tij Iginla	31	30	61	32
Shane Smith	27	34	61	-1
Carson Wetsch	18	41	59	13
Ty Halaburda	25	32	57	9
Mazden Leslie	13	36	49	9
Hiroki Gojsic	19	23	42	8
Tomas Poletin	19	12	31	12
Hayden Paupanekis	14	16	30	-3
Keith McInnis	7	23	30	2
Parker Alcos	5	20	25	42
Dawson Gerwing	11	11	22	-3
Rowan Guest	0	19	19	13
Owen Folstrom	12	5	17	-9
Levi Benson	5	11	16	-2
Will Sharpe	3	13	16	1
Vojtech Cihar	5	10	15	3
Kayden Longley	5	7	12	4
Kalder Varga	8	3	11	-11
Connor Pankratz	6	5	11	0
Jacob Henderson	2	9	11	-2
Nate Corbet	2	8	10	12
Jaxon Kehrig	2	7	9	-7
Daniel Pekar	4	4	8	-2
Ryan Oothoudt	2	2	4	2
Eli Barrett	1	3	4	0

GOALIE STATS

View All

Goalie	W	L	GAA	SAV%
Harrison Boettiger	18	9	3.19	.899
Josh Banini	10	9	3.35	.894

WHL Standings

Eastern Conference

East Division

Rank Team GP W PTS PCT

1

55

42

89

0.809

2

55

32

65

0.591

3

56

27

60

0.536

4

53

20

47

0.443

5

55

19

45

0.409

6

54

13

32

0.296

Central Division

Rank Team GP W PTS PCT

1

54

37

82

0.759

2

54

36

77

0.713

3

53

31

69

0.651

4

54

21

46

0.426

5

55

16

34

0.309

Western Conference

B.C. Division

Rank Team GP W PTS PCT

1

54

35

78

0.722

2

54

32

66

0.611

3

54

29

65

0.602

4

55

25

61

0.555

5

53

23

54

0.509

6

55

20

43

0.391

U.S. Division

Rank Team GP W PTS PCT

1

55

45

93

0.845

2

54

27

55

0.509

3

54

25

55

0.509

4

53

25

54

0.509

5

52

22

51

0.490

6

55

21

47

0.427

PLAYER STATS

View All

Player	G	A	PTS	+/-
Tij Iginla	31	30	61	32
Shane Smith	27	34	61	-1
Carson Wetsch	18	41	59	13
Ty Halaburda	25	32	57	9
Mazden Leslie	13	36	49	9
Hiroki Gojsic	19	23	42	8
Tomas Poletin	19	12	31	12
Hayden Paupanekis	14	16	30	-3
Keith McInnis	7	23	30	2
Parker Alcos	5	20	25	42
Dawson Gerwing	11	11	22	-3
Rowan Guest	0	19	19	13
Owen Folstrom	12	5	17	-9
Levi Benson	5	11	16	-2
Will Sharpe	3	13	16	1
Vojtech Cihar	5	10	15	3
Kayden Longley	5	7	12	4
Kalder Varga	8	3	11	-11
Connor Pankratz	6	5	11	0
Jacob Henderson	2	9	11	-2
Nate Corbet	2	8	10	12
Jaxon Kehrig	2	7	9	-7
Daniel Pekar	4	4	8	-2
Ryan Oothoudt	2	2	4	2
Eli Barrett	1	3	4	0

GOALIE STATS

View All

Goalie	W	L	GAA	SAV%
Harrison Boettiger	18	9	3.19	.899
Josh Banini	10	9	3.35	.894