Prospect watch
Kaedan Korczak D – 2001 – Yorkton, SK
Last spring the Rockets made a deal with Red Deer at the WHL bantam draft to move up and swipe standout defenseman Kaedan Korczak with the 11th pick in the fist round. Despite being second year bantam age Korczak played midget AAA with the Yorkton Maulers last season posting 15 points (2G, 13A), and 36 PIM over 42 games. The self described two-way defenseman attended his first Rockets camp this past summer, and appeared in two preseason games picking up an assist before he was returned to his midget club for the season. Korczak is still growing into his 6’1 frame, but has already improved his stats from last season with the Maulers, in just 29 games he’s put up 20 points (6G, 14A). Because of the WHL’s 15-year-old restrictions Korczak is only allowed to play in up to five WHL regular season games this season, unless his midget team has been eliminated from the playoffs. He burned four of those games when he was called up after the Christmas break. In those games he register a point and was -1 but looked solid. According to Assistant Gerneal Manager Lorne Frey, Korczak has good skills and can play in all situations.
“Kaedan is a big, solid, all around two-way player. He’s a good skater, he’s mobile and he can play in every situation. He has a chance to be a stable defenseman for years for us”, said Frey.
Ted Brennan C – 2000 – Malahat, BC
The Kelowna Rockets went with a big steady center when they drafted 6’0, 195 pound Ted Brennan in the third round at the 2015 WHL bantam draft. Brennan has attended the last two Rockets summer camps. Last season he played with the South Island Royals of the BCMML where the team captured gold in the Rick Lapointe bantam tournament, as well as participated in the Mac’s Major Midget Tournament in Calgary. He picked up 17 points (8G, 9A) in 38 games last season with the S.I. Royals. He attended Rockets camp this past fall, but was released from camp to play with the Junior B Saanich Braves of the VIJHL where he’s started to blossom into a playmaker scoring 17 points (7G, 10A) in 22 games. The Rockets took note of this and recalled Brennan for a two game stint in November where he recorded his first career WHL assist. He was again recalled in December, and over four games picked up his second assist of the year before being sent back to Saanich. Brennan will definitely challenge for a roster spot next season as the Rockets are always looking to get bigger.
Liam Kindree LW – 2000 – North Vancouver, BC
The Rockets went with a smaller, speedy winger when they drafted Liam Kindree in the fourth round at the 2015 WHL Bantam draft. The 5’10 North Vancouver product played with the Vancouver NW Giants of the BCMML the past two seasons. In his first season of midget Kindree didn’t disappoint putting up 28 points (13G, 15A) in 37 games. He attended Rockets camp this past summer, and jumped into three pre season games picking up a goal and an assist before he was returned to midget. This season he’s nearly doubled his point production with the Giants just half way past the mid season mark with 41 points (20G, 21A), and was named the BCMML Player of the month for November. He has earned himself two call-ups this season. The first was a one game call-up and he was held pointless against his hometown Vancouver Giants. The next time he was called-up Kindree appeared in six games in just under a month with the Rockets. He picked up his first career WHL assist against the Calgary Hitmen before being sent back down shortly after the New Year. The Rockets will look for Kindree to convert his offence full time to the WHL next season.
By Paige Bednorz
