McSweeney’s WHL Community Collective: Kelowna Rockets
Kelowna, B.C.- It’s hard to put into words just how much of an influence the Kelowna Rockets have had on Dylan Wightman’s life.
Growing up in the Okanagan city, Wightman rarely missed a game, had the walls of his childhood bedroom plastered with hockey posters and painted the distinct Rockets shade of teal and looked forward to classroom visits from some of his idols.
“Luke Schenn was probably my all-time favourite. Jamie Benn, Shea Weber, guys from around that time,” Wightman recalled. “They came every year. I came to school in my Rockets jersey and I was always so pumped from the games.
It kind of makes them seem like real people. When you see them on the ice, they’ve got their helmets on and they’re just kind of celebrities. When you see these guys come in and you look up to them, you just want to be them. That kind of inspired me to keep playing hockey.”
Now, Wightman has the alternate captain’s ‘A’ stitched on his jersey and he’s the one visiting classrooms.
Rockets players spent time with 35 local classes in the 2023-24 regular season, with the visits captured in often-viral social media videos.
He's a runner, he's a track star.
Kayden Longley was busy playing tag with kids during their recess at our latest school visit on his birthday. pic.twitter.com/jDPLSOUKCl
— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) January 30, 2024
Wightman estimates he’s done about two dozen visits himself over his three full seasons with the team- including a trip to his old school, Walton Road Elementary.
“I know how much it meant to me so I make an effort to do it as much as I can,” Wightman said. “Last year, I got the opportunity to go to my old school. So that was cool. See some of my old teachers and with my mom being a teacher I saw some of her teacher friends. I grew up and they were teaching me and now I’m going back as a rocket and kind of showing them that I achieved my dream.
I think just inspiring (the kids) to keep going in whatever they do. I try not to just be focused on hockey questions. All sorts of sports or activities, sort of the main message that I tried to provide was just to stick with it and have fun and the most important thing is just to make sure you enjoy what you’re doing.”
The Western Hockey League strives to promote and foster a welcoming environment in communities close to our 22 clubs in Western Canada and the Pacific Northwest. Every team has the creative freedom to allow their players and staff to work with the organizations and groups that they are most passionate about. The end goal is to create and maintain long-lasting relationships and ongoing partnerships within their community.
Through the McSweeney’s WHL Community Collective, we aim to highlight these outstanding initiatives done by each club throughout the season.