WHL Kelowna Rockets

Rockets Replenish Prospects at WHL Draft

May 5, 2011 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kelowna Rockets News Release


The Kelowna Rockets drafted nine players during Thursday's Western Hockey League bantam draft, including a highly skilled forward with their first pick, 15th overall.

The Rockets picked Rourke Chartier from Saskatoon, SK in the first round, calling him a future fan favourite.

"We were very pleased to be able to pick Rourke," said Rockets director of player personnel Lorne Frey. "With him there is no question he will one day be a fan favourite one day. He's a dynamic player. He's excited and really pumped about being selected by Kelowna and we're looking forward to watching him develop."

Chartier, a 5-foot-7 centre, led the Saskatoon Bantam Stallions in the top Saskatchewan bantam league last season.

"He's highly skilled, highly competitive, a great skater and he competes: All the things that you want in a hockey player," added Frey. "He's exciting. He's the type of guy you pay to come to see. He has a great passion for the game."

Chartier is the cornerstone of a draft that saw Kelowna make 8 selections, adding five forwards, two defenceman and a goalie.

"Overall we're pleased with the draft," said Frey. "Most of the forwards we took were similar in a lot of ways. They are good skaters with good skill level. Now we just have to see if they can develop and become good players down the road."

Here's a look at the rest of the Rockets 2011 draft class with a quote from the scouts that watched them.

2nd round (37th overall)

Austin Glover - Right Wing - Clavet, SK - 5-foot-11, 150 pounds

Scouts say: "He's got real good skill and is an excellent skater. He's a good honest two way hockey player."

3rd Round (51st overall)

Riley Stadel - Defense - Surrey, BC - 5-foot-10, 163 pounds

Scouts say: "Excellent skater, highly skilled, very competitive. He's a mobile quick defenceman who competes and makes intelligent plays."

5th round (90th overall)

Thomas Spence - Goalie - Moose Jaw, SK - 6-foot-2, 165 pounds

Scouts say: "He's a big guy, very fundamentally strong. Early in the year we thought he was one of the better goalies out there. His upside is huge."

5th round (102nd overall)

Ryan Donaldson - Right Wing - Langley, BC - 6-foot-1, 145 pounds

Scouts say: "A highly skilled forward, very good skater with good size. Another guy with pretty good upside."

5th round (103rd overall)

Justin Kirkland - Right Wing - Camrose, AB - 6-foot-1, 145 pounds

Scouts say: "He's a tall, lanky kid who's a very good skater and has very good puck skills."

6th round (125th overall)

David Dunn - Defense - Russell, MB - 6-foot, 145 pounds

Scouts say: "He's a nice skating mobile defnceman. Very intelligent. Moves the puck well and makes good decisisons with the puck."

7th round (147th overall)

Gordon Wasteste - Forward - 6-foot-1, 168 pounds

Scouts say: "Tall lanky player with good offensive skills and good hands. This pick was outside of the box. Down the road we think he can be a good forward."

7th Round (148th overall)

Johnny Walker -Defense, Phoenix, AZ,

8th round (169th overall)

Lien Miller-Jeannotte - Forward - Fort St. John, BC

Scouts say: "A lanky guy with good offensive ability. Showed well in the BC Cup. Another player with a good upside."

Check out the Kelowna Rockets Statistics



Western Hockey League Stories from May 5, 2011


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.

OurSports Central