Rockets Make Pair of Picks in US Priority Draft

May 10, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kelowna Rockets News Release

The Kelowna Rockets made a pair of selections in the 2023 WHL U.S. Priority Draft on Wednesday, drafting forward Kalder Varga and goaltender Oliver Kanat.

With their first pick of the day, the Rockets selected forward Varga seventh overall in the first round from the Chicago Mission 14U AAA of the HPHL 14U.

Kalder, 15, posted 21 points (11G, 10A) and 15 penalty minutes through 15 games this season with the U14AAA team. He added another four points (3G, 1A) and three penalty minutes over five playoff games.

The 5'10 ‚¬Â³, 159-pound forward posted 91 points (30G, 61A) in 78 games last season for the Windy City Storm 13U AAA.

Kalder is the son of former Tacoma Rocket John Varga, who spent four seasons with the club between 1991 and 1995. John appeared in 254 regular season games, all with the Rockets, recording 333 points (154G, 179A) and 387 PIM.

Round 1, pick 7:

PLAYER: KALDER VARGA

POSITION: F

HEIGHT: 5'10

WEIGHT: 159

BIRTHDATE: 2008

Season Team GP G A PTS PIM

2021-22 Windy City Storm 13U AAA 78 30 61 91 -

2022-23 Chicago Mission 14U AAA (HPHL) 15 11 10 21 15

Round 2, pick 26:

PLAYER: OLIVER KANAT

POSITION: G

HEIGHT: n/a

WEIGHT: n/a

BIRTHDATE: 2008

Season Team GP W L GAA SAV%

2021-22 Anaheim Jr. Ducks 13U AAA 40 - - 0.95 .915

2022-23 Los Angeles Jr. Kings 14U AAA 28 - - 1.53 .922

The order of selection was determined on March 29, 2023 through the 2023 WHL U.S. Priority Draft Lottery. All six WHL Clubs that did not qualify for the 2023 WHL Playoffs participated in the lottery. The lottery proceedings determined the order of selection for the first six picks in the first round of the 2023 WHL U.S. Priority Draft, with inverse order of standing from the 2022-23 WHL Regular Season determining the order of selection for the second round.

Players eligible for the 2023 WHL U.S. Priority Draft are 2008-born players who reside in Alaska, Arizona, California, Colorado, Hawaii, Idaho, Kansas, Minnesota, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Mexico, North Dakota, Oklahoma, Oregon, South Dakota, Texas, Utah, Washington, and Wyoming.

Kalder is a resident of Geneva, IL, outside of the Western Hockey League's drafting zone. Because his dad played in the WHL, he was able to dictate that he wanted his son to play in the WHL instead of the OHL.

Players not selected in the 2023 WHL U.S. Priority Draft will remain eligible to be selected in the 2023 WHL Prospects Draft on Thursday, May 19, or listed by a WHL Club at any time thereafter.

Western Hockey League Stories from May 10, 2023

• Winterhawks Select Two Americans at 2023 U.S. Priority Draft - Portland Winterhawks
• Bedard Winner of Four Broncos Memorial Trophy as WHL Player of the Year - Regina Pats
• Bedard Wins Four Broncos Memorial Trophy as WHL Player of the Year Presented by Kia - WHL
• Hitmen Select Two in U.S. Priority Draft - Calgary Hitmen
• Oil Kings Sign 2023 U.S. Priority Draft Third-Overall Pick Alofa Tunoa Ta'amu - Edmonton Oil Kings
• Pats Captain Bedard Wins Bob Clarke Trophy as 2022-23 WHL Top Scorer Presented by Kubota Canada - Regina Pats
• Royals Sign U.S. Priority Draft Selection Cruz Waltze to WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement - Victoria Royals
• Blades Draft Forward and Defenceman in U.S. Priority Draft - Saskatoon Blades
• Western Hockey League Completes 2023 U.S. Priority Draft - WHL
• Bedard Wins Bob Clarke Trophy as 2022-23 WHL Top Scorer Presented by Kubota Canada - WHL
• Warriors Add Two Players in Wednesday's U.S. Priority Draft - Moose Jaw Warriors
• Kamloops Blazers Select Two Players in U.S. Priority Draft - Kamloops Blazers
• Americans Select Burick, McCord in 2023 WHL U.S. Priority Draft - Tri-City Americans
• Tigers Select Gordon-Carroll & Davidson in US Prospects Draft - Medicine Hat Tigers
• Chiefs Select F Brody Gillespie First Overall in WHL U.S. Priority Draft, F Nathan Chorlton in Second Round - Spokane Chiefs
• Royals Select Cruz Waltze and Odin Vauhkonen in 2023 U.S. Priority Draft - Victoria Royals
• Tips Select Two Players from Dallas Stars Elite 14U in U.S. Priority Draft - Everett Silvertips
• Pats Make Pair of Selections in 2023 U.S. Priority Draft - Regina Pats
• Giants Select Tyus Sparks and Gavin Karl in 2023 U.S. Priority Draft - Vancouver Giants
• Rebels Select Two at WHL U.S. Priority Draft - Red Deer Rebels
• Rockets Make Pair of Picks in US Priority Draft - Kelowna Rockets
• Wheat Kings Select Reed Brown & Jimmy Egan in US Priority Draft - Brandon Wheat Kings
• Hurricanes Select Pair in 2023 US Priority Draft - Lethbridge Hurricanes
• Broncos Add Goaltender, Defenceman in 2023 WHL U.S. Priority Draft - Swift Current Broncos
• Oil Kings Make Two Selections at 2023 WHL U.S. Priority Draft - Edmonton Oil Kings

The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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