Cardinal Sport Game Preview: Rockets open 2026-27 season in Vancouver
The Kelowna Rockets officially open the 2026-27 WHL Regular Season on Saturday night when they visit the Vancouver Giants at the Langley Events Centre. Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. PT. The matchup will also serve as Vancouver’s Home Opener.
It marks the beginning of a new season for a young Rockets roster that will feature several players making their WHL debuts, alongside an experienced group returning from last year’s Memorial Cup team.
KELOWNA ROCKETS
The Rockets enter opening night with a new-look roster featuring 10 designated rookies, including several players expected to make an immediate impact.
On top of the ten rookies on the Rockets roster, 2007-born forwards Jakub Frolo and Cole Braunshausen, along with defenceman Dane Sorensen, are all set to make their Kelowna Rockets and WHL regular-season debuts.
Kelowna will also get its first regular-season look at Madden Daneault, the first overall selection in the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft. The highly-touted 2011-born forward joins the Rockets lineup for his first WHL season. Daneault is eligible to play 34 games for the Rockets this season under the new Western Canadian Development Model (WCDM).
The youth movement continues on the blue line, where 16-year-old defencemen Will Kelts and Remy Koch are both expected to begin the season with Kelowna. With a number of new faces stepping into the lineup, there could be more than a few rookie laps before Saturday night’s opener.
Up front, the Rockets will lean on returning forwards Eli Barrett, Dawson Gerwing, Ryan Oothoudt, Owen Folstrom, and Jaxon Kehrig to provide experience and offensive production within a young forward group. Gerwing enters the season as one of Kelowna’s overage players.
On the back end, Pittsburgh Penguins prospect Peyton Kettles, overager Rowan Guest, and Jacob Henderson bring experience to a defensive group that features three rookies.
Kettles returns after attending camp with Pittsburgh. The 6-foot-6 right-shot defenceman was selected 39th overall by the Penguins in the second round of the 2025 NHL Draft.
In goal, Harrison Boettiger returns following a strong 2025-26 campaign in which he posted a 25-10-5 record, 2.83 goals-against average and .911 save percentage across 41 regular-season appearances.
Boettiger will be joined by overager Josh Banini and rookie Linden Sobocan, giving Kelowna a three-goaltender group to begin the season.
VANCOUVER GIANTS
Vancouver enters the regular season after finishing its four-game preseason with a 3-0-1 record.
The Giants closed exhibition play with consecutive 5-3 victories over the Victoria Royals, including a win in their preseason finale on Sunday in Langley. Blake Chorney scored twice in the victory, while Dennis Emesibe scored the eventual game-winning goal in the third period.
Vancouver also picked up a 7-3 preseason victory over the Wenatchee Wild after opening exhibition play with a 4-3 overtime loss to Seattle.
The Giants entered training camp with a returning group that included forwards Mathis Preston and Joe Iginla, both of whom were selected in the 2026 NHL Draft. Preston was selected in the second round by Anaheim, while Calgary selected Iginla in the third round.
Saturday will mark the first of seven regular-season meetings between Kelowna and Vancouver in 2026-27.
ROCKETS AT NHL CAMPS
Six Rockets attended NHL Rookie Camps ahead of the 2026-27 season.
Peyton Kettles, Harrison Boettiger and Jakub Frolo have since returned to Kelowna and are expected to be available for opening night.
Three Rockets remain away from the club after advancing to NHL Main Camps:
- Vojtech Cihar – Los Angeles Kings
- Nate Corbet – Los Angeles Kings
- Tomas Poletin – New York Islanders
All three will be unavailable for Kelowna’s opening weekend.
YOUTH MOVEMENT
Opening night will offer the first regular-season look at several members of Kelowna’s next wave.
The Rockets carry 10 designated rookies on their season-opening roster, highlighted by 2011-born Daneault, 2010-born Kelts, and 2010-born Koch.
Daneault headlines the group after being selected first overall in the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft, while Kelts enters his first full WHL season after being selected in the first round of the 2025 WHL Prospects Draft.
The 2009-born Rockets rookie features William Matte, Drew Larioza, Colton Lien, Von Lakovic, and Linden Sobocan. Dallin Antos and Gabriel O’Brien are the only 2008-born rookies on the team.
Frolo, Braunshausen, and Sorensen arrive in Kelowna after developing outside the WHL and will make their league debuts this Saturday in Langley
2027 NHL DRAFT
Four players on Kelowna’s season-opening roster are eligible for the 2027 NHL Draft.
Forwards William Matte, Colton Lien, and Drew Larioza, along with goaltender Linden Sobocan, are all first-time draft eligible this season.
The quartet will have an opportunity to establish themselves throughout the year as NHL scouts begin evaluating the 2027 draft class.
INJURY REPORT
#27 Jacob Henderson – Upper Body (Day-to-Day)
UPCOMING GAMES
Following the opener in Vancouver, Kelowna will travel to Penticton on Friday, September 25 for the Vees’ Home Opener before returning to Prospera Place the following night. The Rockets will host Penticton on Saturday, September 26 at 6:05 p.m. for their own Home Opener and the first Battle of the Okanagan at Prospera Place this season.
