WHL Kelowna Rockets

Kelowna Rockets Busy On Draft Day

Published on June 26, 2008 under Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kelowna Rockets News Release


Kelowna, BC: The Kelowna Rockets have announced that 20 year old Colin Joe and 19 year old Milan Kytnar have been traded to the Saskatoon Blades.

The Rockets send Joe and Kytnar to the Blades in exchange for the 24th overall pick in today's CHL Import Draft and Saskatoon's earliest selection in the fifth round of the 2009 Bantam Draft.

With the 24th overall selection in the CHL Import Draft, the Kelowna Rockets have announced that they have selected 18 year old Stepan Novotny from Prague, CZE.

Novotny, a 6'1-190 pound right winger, played with the Indiana Ice of the USHL last season. He played in 44 games and recorded four goals and seven assists for 11 points.

Prior to joining the Ice, Novotny attended and played at Shattuck St. Mary's High School in Minnesota, which claims Jonathan Toews, of the Chicago Blackhawks, as one of their alumni.

President/General Manager of the Kelowna Rockets Bruce Hamilton stated, "Anytime you move a guy like Colin Joe that has been with our club for the past four years, it's a sad day. We would like to thank Colin for his time in our organization and wish him nothing but the best. As for Milan we simply have an excess of bodies on our roster and didn't feel like he would be one of our first six forwards. In both cases we tried to get Colin and Milan to a competitive team, where they will get lots of playing time."

The Rockets acquired Joe in the 2003 Bantam Draft in the third round, 60th overall. He spent four seasons with the Rockets and was the only player remaining from the 2005 WHL Championship season.

As for Kytnar the Rockets selected him in the first round of last season's CHL Import Draft, seventh overall. The Edmonton Oilers selected Kytnar in the 2007 NHL Entry Draft in the fifth round 127th overall.

"With respect to Stepan, we get a right handed shot, which we felt we needed," continued Hamilton. "He's a very skilled player that has been in North America the last two seasons, so he won't need that extra time to make the transition to our style of hockey. We feel he can step up and play on one of our top two lines."

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Western Hockey League Stories from June 26, 2008


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