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r With the Kelowna Rockets’ season opener just 10 days away, the team’s line-up is beginning to take shape.

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r But, the make-up of the 20-man roster that hits the ice at the Toyota Centre in Kennewick, Washington on September 20^th may not contain all the final pieces of the puzzle.

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r There are 2 major reasons why the composition of the Rockets’ regular season roster will likely take longer to be finalized this year. First off, the team is sending 9 regular players away to NHL training camps this week – Luke Schenn (Toronto), Tyler Myers (Buffalo), Lucas Bloodoff (Tampa Bay), Torrie Jung (Tampa Bay), Colin Long (Phoenix), Jamie Benn (Dallas), Brandon McMillan (Anaheim), Tysen Dowzak (NYR) and Cody Almond (Minnesota).

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r The nine is a franchise record and, at this point, only Jung, McMillan and Bloodoff are certain to be back for the start of the regular season.

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r Secondly, Dowzak is the only potential 20-year-old on the team with 2 additional overage spots remaining available. With Kelowna hoping to challenge for the league title, it seems highly likely that additional overage candidates will be brought in.

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r Given normal probabilities, fans can expect all nine NHL hopefuls to be back with the Rockets by early October. However, as the saying goes, ‘anything can happen’. In particular, Schenn is considered a strong candidate to crack the Maple Leafs’ blueline. Furthermore, it’s not known when the guys might be returned and until they are, others will be playing in their spots hoping to earn permanent employment.

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r In the offseason, the club re-tooled its European contingent. Milan Kytnar was traded to Saskatoon and the team moved up in the CHL Import Draft to chose Stepan Novotny in the first round. Later, they selected Novotny’s Czech countryman, Lukas Matejka. Both players are expected to earn regular ice time this season and have been impressive in camp so far.

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r Novotny is a smooth-skating forward who, at 17, already has 2 years of North American experience under his belt. He spent the past 2 seasons at Shattuck St. Mary’s prep school in Minnesota after leaving the Czech Republic at the tender age of 15. He was expected to accept a scholarship to the University of Denver but, a change of plans finds him in Kelowna. Novotny scored the shoot out winner during the Rockets’ 4-3 victory over Vancouver on Saturday and played a strong game on the top line with gunner, Jamie Benn and playmaker, Colin Long.

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r Matejka, who won’t turn 17 until October 30^th, has shown good skills to go along with his 6’2” frame. He scored a pretty goal in the club’s intra-squad game recently.

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r Spencer Main, the Rockets’ second round selection in the 2007 Bantam Draft, looks like he’ll be the only 16-year-old rookie on the team. However, both Max Adolph and Brett Bulmer have been recalled by the team after having been sent to their midget teams earlier in the week. The aforementioned exodus to NHL camps prompted their return.

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r Main, from N. Vancouver had a strong year in the BC Major Midget League last season as a member of the NW Vancouver Giants. He scored 15 goals in 34 games and was one of his team’s most conscientious defensive forwards.

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r Defensemen, Aaron Boreyko and Curt Gogol look like solid bets to make the club as 17-year-old rookies. Both were chosen in the 2006 Bantam Draft. Gogol is a strong skating, physical blueliner from Calgary whose Dad, Brent, holds the WHL record for most penalty minutes in a season. He spent 511 minutes in the box while playing for Victoria and Billings during the 1977-78 season.

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r Finally, a pair of undrafted American-born players are making determined bids to crack the roster. Goalie, Adam Brown has been fighting Dylan Tait for the back-up job to starter Jung. Forward Mitch Callahan of Whittier, California is a fast and clever stick handler.

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r Brown is also from California and played with the Dallas Stars Midgets last season while Tait is another from the Bantam Draft class of ’06. Should each of Tait, Gogol and Boreyko make the team, they’d join fellow 2006 picks Tyson Barrie, Collin Bowman and Jesse Paradis.

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r Meanwhile, Kyle Verdino is attempting to make the full time switch from defense for forward this season. However, the Phoenix native was forced to miss practice earlier in the week due to concussion symptoms.

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r The Rockets close out the preseason schedule with a home and home series vs. Spokane this weekend. The team travels to Spokane on Friday before returning home to host the Chiefs on Saturday.

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r After opening the regular season in Tri-Cities next Saturday, the Rockets play in Portland on Sunday and Kamloops a week from Friday. Their home opener comes September 27th vs. the Blazers.

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