Owen Folstrom: Ready to take the next leap
Written by Paige Bednorz
Owen Folstrom holds bragging rights among his Kelowna Rockets 2023 draft classmates, he is the first prospect to dress in a regular season Western Hockey League game.
Selected in the fourth round (76th overall) at the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft, Folstrom came into his first Rockets training camp and knew immediately Kelowna was the route he wanted to go.
After impressing on the ice and in the gym, the Calgary, Alta. product signed a WHL Scholarship & Development Agreement with the Rockets.
“As soon as I stepped in that rink, I knew that this is where I wanted to spend my junior career,” said Folstrom in a telephone interview with kelowanrockets.com. “I just went out on the ice and did everything I could to be the best version of myself and it paid off by getting to sign. I was as happy as could be by the end of camp.”
What he thought was just be a trip to Kelowna to check out the Rockets camp and return home quickly turned into Folstrom dressing in a pair of pre-season games against the Kamloops Blazers.
“Pre-season was the hardest games I had played in at that point, it was fun just learning from guys like Tij Iginla and everyone on the Rockets. I took in everything I could to bring it back to my U18 season and apply it to my game.
“The Rockets coaches and management told me to keep doing what I’m doing, obviously with guys being five years older than me to be really hard working in the gym and putting on as much muscle as I can so I can make a big impact on the ice. ”
Heading back to Calgary, Folstrom made the jump from playing Calgary Flames of the AEHL U15 AAA team, where he recorded 52 points (15G, 37A) and 30 penalty minutes in 34 games during his draft year, to bypassing the U17 program all the way to the U18AAA team.
With the Flames, Folstrom was just one of two 2008 born forwards to crack the U18AAA squad full time – only one other 15-year-old was listed as an affiliate player. He pressed his foot down on the gas pedal, lighting up the league with 13 goals in 16 games, while adding three assists and six penalty minutes.
His offensive output caught the attention of the Rockets brass, who called up the 5’10, 163-pound forward to join them on their December road trip to visit the five Eastern Division teams ahead of the holiday break.
“As soon as I got that call, I jumped in the air and was so excited. Once I got to put on that crest and play my first game, obviously lots of nerves, but it was amazing.”
Folstrom dressed in three games for the Rockets, all victories. He made his debut on December 9 against the Regina Pats, where the Rockets held off Regina in a 5-4 victory. Six days later he dressed in the Rockets thrilling 4-3 victory over the Prince Albert Raiders that saw Tij Iginla record the game winner in the dying seconds of the third period. His trip was capped off with the chance to play in the Rockets come from behind victory over the top ranked Saskatoon Blades, Marek Rocak forced overtime with a goal in the final minute of regulation, captain Gabriel Szturc secured the victory in overtime.
“I wasn’t really sure what to expect coming in, if it was going to be a lot faster and stronger. I learned it’s a lot smarter, it takes lots of brains and strength to play in this league.
“I was able to see and experience a lot of things on that trip. Tij is such a great guy, I love talking to him. When I was watching Andrew Cristall’s ability to make plays and stuff, that was super memorizing. Even just seeing Luke Schelter, that was super cool, he’s probably one of the toughest guys and it just shows how much heart it takes to play in this league.”
Returned back to his U18 club, Folstrom rode the wave of confidence from his WHL stint into playing at the famed Circle K Classic (formally the Mac’s Tournament and CP Challenge Cup) that invites the top U18AAA teams to compete.
In his first game at the tournament, Folstrom recorded two goals in the Flames 6-4 victory and was named the Player of the Game for his team by the tournament organizers.
“I was able to come back to Calgary and really work on being the best version of myself and make an impact. It gives you lots of confidence for sure, going into that first game at the Circle K Classic, I’ve never felt so confident throwing bodies but after playing with twenty-year-olds and coming back down to playing with 16, 17, 18-year-olds it felt a lot easier.”
By the end of the regular season, Folstrom put together a campaign that saw him finish tied for eighth among rookies in league scoring and one point back of the team lead with 38 points (20G,18A) through 33 games.
“It was a decent sized jump going from U15 to U18 hockey, this past year I really focused on utilizing my shot and just being an all around two-way forward, who can make plays but also make an impact on the game whether it’s points, hitting, doing anything to better my team.”
Folstrom is no stranger to making big leaps and his next personal goal is to propel his way to the Western Hockey League as a 16-year-old this upcoming season.
“My focus this summer is putting on lots of muscle. I just need come into camp, be my normal workhorse self and use my skill to get around guys. A big part of my game is never backing down, even though I know the other guys are way older and heavier than me, I just need to play my game and never be scared.”
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