Rockets acquire Canucks prospect Alcos in deal with Oil Kings
Kelowna, B.C. – The Kelowna Rockets have added Vancouver Canucks prospect Parker Alcos on the blueline, following a deal with the Edmonton Oil Kings Tuesday afternoon.
In exchange for the right-shot Alcos, a third-round pick in the 2026 CHL Import Draft, and a seventh-round pick in the 2028 WHL Prospects Draft, the Oil Kings have acquired Kelowna’s first-round pick in the 2026 CHL Import Draft, a second-round pick in the 2027 WHL Prospects Draft, and a third-round pick (Prince George Cougars) in the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft.
“Parker gives us a big, right-shot defenceman with WHL experience and pro upside,” said Bruce Hamilton, General Manager of the Rockets. “He defends hard, moves the puck well, and fits the style of game we want to play down the stretch.”
Alcos, a 19-year-old product of Port Moody, B.C., has appeared in 31 games with the Oil Kings this season, registering 14 points (2G-12A) and a plus-29 rating.
Selected by the Canucks in the sixth round (189th overall) of the 2024 NHL Draft, the 6-foot-4, 186-pound Alcos is regarded as a smooth-skating, defensively responsible defenceman.
“When he is shoulder to shoulder with a top player in the WHL, he’s got such a strong stride and mobility that he doesn’t need much of a cushion,” said Mike Komisarek, player development coach for the Canucks, in an interview with Canucks.com from January 2025. “He’s got such great tools and there’s a smoothness and efficiency in his skating – having that helps him in all aspects of his game.”
Undrafted into the WHL, Alcos represents a story of perseverance. After attending Oil Kings training camp on an invite, he signed a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement with the Club on September 7, 2022. He made his WHL debut later that season on November 15, 2022, eventually playing in 12 games as a 16-year-old.
The 2023-24 campaign represented Alcos’ first full season with the Oil Kings, and he dressed in 67 contests, collecting 15 points (1G-14A) as a rookie. His quick ascent to reliability on the Oil Kings blueline ultimately led him to being selected by the Canucks in the NHL Draft that summer.
Over 167 career regular season games with the Oil Kings, Alcos has logged 44 points (4G-40A) and a plus-17 rating.
“It is never an easy decision to move a player who has been a part of your organization for a long time,” said Kirt Hill, President and General Manager of the Oil Kings. “With the recent acquisitions on our back end, we had to make a corresponding move to get our numbers in the right spot. We are proud of the steps he was able to make with our Club and we are happy he will get the opportunity to play for the Memorial Cup and continue his development close to home and his NHL team in Vancouver. It has been great working with Parker over the last three seasons and watching him grow as a player and person. We would like to thank him for his professionalism and dedication to the organization and wish him all the best in Kelowna.”
Earlier on Tuesday, the Oil Kings acquired 20-year-old defenceman Carter Sotheran from the Portland Winterhawks. They also brought in veteran blueliner Austin Zemlak from the Tri-City Americans, after he returned to the WHL from Arizona State University.
The move by the Rockets is the second of the day impacting the blueline, after Los Angeles Kings prospect Will Sharpe was traded to the Vancouver Giants in exchange for 20-year-old captain Ty Halaburda.
Last Friday, Hamilton added 2006-born defenceman Keith McInnis in a swap with the Red Deer Rebels as he continues to fine tune the Rockets roster in preparation for hosting the 2026 Memorial Cup presented by Kubota.
The 2026 WHL Trade Deadline is scheduled for Thursday, January 8, at 6 p.m. MT.
Next up, the Rockets (17-14-3-2) host the Tri-City Americans (20-14-2-0) on Wednesday, January 7, at 7:05 p.m. PT. Watch all the action for free on Victory+.
🎥PARKER ALCOS – HIGHLIGHT REEL🎥
Laying the boom since ’06.@EdmOilKings | #NHLDraft pic.twitter.com/x6tCBMMFiq
— Western Hockey League (@TheWHL) June 8, 2024
