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WHL Kelowna Rockets

Szturc Signs ELC with NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning

March 2, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kelowna Rockets News Release


Kelowna Rockets captain Gabriel Szturc
Kelowna Rockets captain Gabriel Szturc
(Kelowna Rockets, Credit: Steve Dunsmoor)

The Tampa Bay Lightning have signed Kelowna Rockets captain Gabriel Szturc to a three-year NHL contract covering the 2024-25 through 2026-27 seasons, Lightning vice president and general manager Julien BriseBois announced today.

Szturc, 20, is currently in his third season with the Kelowna Rockets of the Western Hockey League and has produced 27 goals and 67 points in 53 games during the 2023-24 season. Szturc ranks second on the Rockets for assists (40), tied for second for plus/minus (+13) and third for goals and scoring. The 5-foot-11, 185-pound Szturc has accumulated 67 goals and 187 points in 176 career games with the squad plus an additional two goals and three points in nine playoff contests. Earlier this season he passed Vaclav Varada for the franchise record in point by a European player.

The Cesky Tesin, CZE product was selected by the Rockets 44th overall in the first round of the CHL Import Draft.

Szturc has competed for Czechia at the IIHF World Junior Championship the past two seasons. In 2023, he helped lead Czechia to the silver medal after notching five goals and eight points in seven contests, ranking second on his team for goals and tied for second for scoring.

Szturc, who went undrafted, was an invitee to Tampa Bay's training camp prior to the 2023-24 season.

Rockets fans can catch Szturc and the Rockets next at Prospera Place when they host the Tri-City Americans on Wednesday, March 6. It will also be a Fan First Menu night with $2 hot dogs and $5 Lucky Lager. The Fan First Menu is available at all Monday to Wednesday regular season games.

Tickets can be purchased: Online at selectyourtickets.com, by calling Select Your Tickets at 250-762-5050, or by visiting the Select Your Tickets box office at the Prospera Place box office. The box office is open 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday through Friday, and opens at 11:00 a.m. on Saturday home game days.

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Images from this story

Kelowna Rockets captain Gabriel Szturc
Kelowna Rockets captain Gabriel Szturc
(Steve Dunsmoor)		   



Western Hockey League Stories from March 2, 2024


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