Latest news with #KelownaRockets
Yahoo
5 days ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Kalder Varga Commits To Denver
Kelowna Rockets forward Kalder Varga has committed to Denver, it was announced late last week. Hailing from Geneva, Ill., Varga split time last season between the Rockets and the U.S. NTDP U17. Although he was held pointless in five games with the NTDP, Varga scored 10 goals and added 14 assists for 24 points in 58 regular season games with Kelowna. Before making the jump to the junior level in 2024-25, Varga played his minor hockey for the Windy City Storm and the Chicago Mission. In his 15U season with the Mission, Varga potted 40 goals and added 50 assists for 90 points in 50 games. With Varga set to return to the Rockets this upcoming season, he will have the ability to continue to grow his game on a young Kelowna team before heading off to join the Pioneers in a couple years. A skilled forward who has the ability to create off the rush, Varga will be someone to keep an eye on for the 2026 NHL Draft.
Edmonton Journal
7 days ago
- Sport
- Edmonton Journal
Top Canucks draft pick Braeden Cootes misses world junior camp exhibition games with injury
Article content Cootes was one of 20 forwards and 36 players overall at the Canada camp. There were eight forwards invited who did not attend, and that list included Kelowna Rockets winger Tij Iginla and Brandon Wheat Kings centre Roger McQueen, who both missed most of this past season with injuries. Article content Of the 44 players invited, 11 are 18 year olds, including Cootes. The rest are 19. Seven players from the group played in this past season's world juniors. Article content Cootes was captain of the Canadian team that won the Under-18 world championship in May in Frisco, Texas. He finished that tournament with six goals and 12 points in seven games. Article content Cootes was also captain of the Thunderbirds this past season, sharing the 'C' initially with Canucks 2023 third rounder Sawyer Mynio and then taking it full time when the Thunderbirds traded blue liner Mynio to the Calgary Hitmen in early January. Article content Article content Mynio played for Team Canada at the world juniors this past season in Ottawa. The team was bounced in the quarterfinals with a 4-3 loss to Czechia. Article content Cootes tallied 26 times and had 63 points in 60 regular season games in his second full season in Seattle. He notched 14 goals and put up 35 points in 64 games as a WHL rookie in 2023-24. Article content Seattle makes its first visit to B.C. in the WHL's second week of the season, playing a weekend twin bill with the Kamloops Blazers on Sept. 26-27. They aren't at the Langley Events Centre to face the Vancouver Giants until Feb. 6. Their other trip to the LEC is Feb. 27. Article content Seattle won the WHL title in 2022-23. They finished ninth in the 11-team Western Conference at 27-38-2-1 in 2023-24 and eighth at 30-33-4-1 last season. They pushed the first-place Everett Silvertips to six games in the first round, including losing twice in overtime. Article content
Time of India
06-07-2025
- Sport
- Time of India
Who is Cal Foote? NHL defenseman and former Stanley Cup champion accused in Hockey Canada sexual assault trial
Cal Foote, once a rising star in the and a Stanley Cup winner with the Tampa Bay Lightning, is now facing serious legal trouble as one of the players charged in the high-profile Hockey Canada sexual assault case. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now Foote, the son of former NHL defenceman Adam Foote, was among five former members of Canada's 2018 World Junior team indicted for their alleged involvement in a group sexual assault that took place in London, Ontario. The rise of Cal Foote from first-round draft pick to Stanley Cup glory Drafted 14th overall in 2017 by the Tampa Bay Lightning, Cal Foote was once viewed as a cornerstone defenseman. He played junior hockey with the Kelowna Rockets and quickly established himself with his size, skill, and NHL pedigree. He signed his entry-level contract with Tampa in 2018 and made his NHL debut during the 2020–21 season. That same season, he became part of the Lightning's championship-winning roster, cementing his status as a young player to watch. Foote later played for the Nashville Predators and had a brief stint with the New Jersey Devils, where he was reunited with his younger brother Nolan. After struggling to secure a permanent NHL role, Foote signed with Slovakian team MHk 32 Liptovský Mikuláš in 2024. Charges related to the 2018 Hockey Canada scandal On January 30, 2024, Cal Foote was charged with one count of sexual assault in relation to an incident following a Hockey Canada gala in 2018. The London Police Service confirmed the charge days later. The allegations claim that several members of the Canadian national junior team were involved in a non-consensual sexual encounter with a woman in a hotel room. Foote's lawyer has stated that he "is innocent" and intends to fight the charge. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The trial began in April 2025 and has become one of the most talked-about cases in Canadian sports, drawing national attention to systemic issues in hockey culture. Alongside Foote, other prominent former NHL players were also charged. Also Read: While the legal proceedings continue, Foote's future in professional hockey remains uncertain, as he was not tendered a qualifying offer by the Devils and now plays overseas.
Hamilton Spectator
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Hamilton Spectator
No NHL, Crosby faced the powerhouse Knights: Looking back at the 2005 Memorial Cup
Corey Perry remembers playing on what felt like hockey's biggest stage well before reaching a Stanley Cup final. The year was 2005. The NHL was locked out. Rabid fans in Canada were starved for high-level hockey. Perry's powerhouse London Knights, meanwhile, were hosting a Memorial Cup headlined by 17-year-old Sidney Crosby of the Rimouski Océanic, captivating fans across the country. 'It was pretty much on the North American stage,' said Perry, now 40 and chasing the Stanley Cup with the Edmonton Oilers. 'No NHL, and Sid being in Rimouski. And then our team, the season that we had. 'Well worth the watch because there's nothing else going on.' This year's Memorial Cup, which began last Friday and runs through Sunday, marks the 20th anniversary of the famous '05 tournament in London, Ont. And the parallels between the two editions are striking. London's back — and once again, coach Dale Hunter's got a team stacked with NHL prospects. Rimouski's back too, this time as host. And while Crosby stole the spotlight 20 years ago, the star this year is 17-year-old Gavin McKenna of the Medicine Hat Tigers, another phenom expected to take the NHL by storm in a couple of seasons. The 2025 tournament also carries a stellar field — with fierce competition in tight round-robin matchups through Monday — but the 2005 Memorial Cup still resonates two decades later. 'In 04-05, there were some special players on that ice who are still playing,' Hunter said. The defending champion Kelowna Rockets — featuring future Hall of Fame defenceman Shea Weber — were also in the tournament alongside the Ottawa 67's, led by Hall of Fame coach Brian Kilrea. 'Everyone was looking for entertainment, and junior hockey was on the map,' Kilrea said. Now 90, Kilrea still recalls what undid his team that year. 'That Sidney Crosby, we just couldn't stop him,' he said. 'Whenever he had the puck, he was beating somebody and either setting up or scoring a goal. He was phenomenal. 'Everyone knew that you had to stop Sidney Crosby. Well, we didn't. London did.' Crosby led the tournament with six goals and 11 points, including a three-goal, two-assist performance in a 7-4 win over Ottawa in the semifinal. London then slowed 'Sid the Kid' down with a 4-0 victory in the championship game, after edging Rimouski 4-3 in an overtime thriller to begin the event. The 2005 Knights were named the Canadian Hockey League's 'Team of the Century' in 2018. London began the season on a 31-game unbeaten run on the way to 59 wins and 120 points, Ontario Hockey League records that still hold up today. Eleven players later made the NHL. 'Special team, pretty special group of guys,' said Perry, the Memorial Cup MVP who returned to London and reunited with his former teammates for a 20th anniversary celebration in March. 'A lot of NHL players ended up playing on that team and had great careers.' With no NHL and Crosby as the star attraction, the event became a spectacle for fans and the media. Kelowna Rockets owner Bruce Hamilton remembers a party atmosphere in London, inside and outside the arena. Spectators packed the 9,000-capacity John Labatt Centre, now Canada Life Place, and thousands more watched a big screen outdoors. 'It was a major event there, and I remember the whole downtown was alive,' said Hamilton, who's also the Rockets' president and GM. 'They had the big tent outside, there was a street party that was going on, and it was packed every day.' Rimouski forward Marc-Antoine Pouliot, Crosby's linemate, can still picture the steady stream of cameras and microphones flooding the dressing room after games and practices. 'I was still in junior, but I felt like we were professional with all the big TV (networks),' said Pouliot, who played 192 NHL games. 'I had never seen anything like this before.' PLAYING WITH SID Pouliot had grown accustomed to the buzz after two seasons with Crosby, instantly the QMJHL's best player when he entered the league at 16. 'He's playing a pre-season game and scoring hat tricks and having like five or six breakaways,' Pouliot said. 'Right away, we knew he was the real deal.' Crosby led the league with 135 points in 2003-04 before exploding for 168 in 62 games in 2004-05, finishing 52 points ahead of second-leading scorer Dany Roussin, his Rimouski linemate. Pouliot said Crosby's physical strength and burst of speed were next-level, but what stood out most was his maturity and commitment to detail, including his superstitious pre-game rituals. No one was allowed to touch No. 87's stick before games. Crosby also followed a step-by-step process for putting on equipment, including some gear he still holds onto. 'I don't know if it was his jock or his underwear, but I'm sure he's still wearing this, or somehow kept it 20 years after,' said Pouliot, who still keeps in touch with the Pittsburgh Penguins captain. Despite Crosby's intensity at the rink, Pouliot said he was an easygoing guy who liked to crack jokes. 'He's very humble, that was a plus,' he said. 'You never know with those superstars, how they act off the ice, but this guy was really humble and a really amazing guy.' — With files from Gemma Karstens-Smith. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 27, 2025.
Winnipeg Free Press
27-05-2025
- Sport
- Winnipeg Free Press
No NHL, Crosby faced the powerhouse Knights: Looking back at the 2005 Memorial Cup
Corey Perry remembers playing on what felt like hockey's biggest stage well before reaching a Stanley Cup final. The year was 2005. The NHL was locked out. Rabid fans in Canada were starved for high-level hockey. Perry's powerhouse London Knights, meanwhile, were hosting a Memorial Cup headlined by 17-year-old Sidney Crosby of the Rimouski Océanic, captivating fans across the country. 'It was pretty much on the North American stage,' said Perry, now 40 and chasing the Stanley Cup with the Edmonton Oilers. 'No NHL, and Sid being in Rimouski. And then our team, the season that we had. 'Well worth the watch because there's nothing else going on.' This year's Memorial Cup, which began last Friday and runs through Sunday, marks the 20th anniversary of the famous '05 tournament in London, Ont. And the parallels between the two editions are striking. London's back — and once again, coach Dale Hunter's got a team stacked with NHL prospects. Rimouski's back too, this time as host. And while Crosby stole the spotlight 20 years ago, the star this year is 17-year-old Gavin McKenna of the Medicine Hat Tigers, another phenom expected to take the NHL by storm in a couple of seasons. The 2025 tournament also carries a stellar field — with fierce competition in tight round-robin matchups through Monday — but the 2005 Memorial Cup still resonates two decades later. 'In 04-05, there were some special players on that ice who are still playing,' Hunter said. The defending champion Kelowna Rockets — featuring future Hall of Fame defenceman Shea Weber — were also in the tournament alongside the Ottawa 67's, led by Hall of Fame coach Brian Kilrea. 'Everyone was looking for entertainment, and junior hockey was on the map,' Kilrea said. Now 90, Kilrea still recalls what undid his team that year. 'That Sidney Crosby, we just couldn't stop him,' he said. 'Whenever he had the puck, he was beating somebody and either setting up or scoring a goal. He was phenomenal. 'Everyone knew that you had to stop Sidney Crosby. Well, we didn't. London did.' Crosby led the tournament with six goals and 11 points, including a three-goal, two-assist performance in a 7-4 win over Ottawa in the semifinal. London then slowed 'Sid the Kid' down with a 4-0 victory in the championship game, after edging Rimouski 4-3 in an overtime thriller to begin the event. The 2005 Knights were named the Canadian Hockey League's 'Team of the Century' in 2018. London began the season on a 31-game unbeaten run on the way to 59 wins and 120 points, Ontario Hockey League records that still hold up today. Eleven players later made the NHL. 'Special team, pretty special group of guys,' said Perry, the Memorial Cup MVP who returned to London and reunited with his former teammates for a 20th anniversary celebration in March. 'A lot of NHL players ended up playing on that team and had great careers.' With no NHL and Crosby as the star attraction, the event became a spectacle for fans and the media. Kelowna Rockets owner Bruce Hamilton remembers a party atmosphere in London, inside and outside the arena. Spectators packed the 9,000-capacity John Labatt Centre, now Canada Life Place, and thousands more watched a big screen outdoors. 'It was a major event there, and I remember the whole downtown was alive,' said Hamilton, who's also the Rockets' president and GM. 'They had the big tent outside, there was a street party that was going on, and it was packed every day.' Rimouski forward Marc-Antoine Pouliot, Crosby's linemate, can still picture the steady stream of cameras and microphones flooding the dressing room after games and practices. 'I was still in junior, but I felt like we were professional with all the big TV (networks),' said Pouliot, who played 192 NHL games. 'I had never seen anything like this before.' PLAYING WITH SID Pouliot had grown accustomed to the buzz after two seasons with Crosby, instantly the QMJHL's best player when he entered the league at 16. 'He's playing a pre-season game and scoring hat tricks and having like five or six breakaways,' Pouliot said. 'Right away, we knew he was the real deal.' Crosby led the league with 135 points in 2003-04 before exploding for 168 in 62 games in 2004-05, finishing 52 points ahead of second-leading scorer Dany Roussin, his Rimouski linemate. Pouliot said Crosby's physical strength and burst of speed were next-level, but what stood out most was his maturity and commitment to detail, including his superstitious pre-game rituals. No one was allowed to touch No. 87's stick before games. Crosby also followed a step-by-step process for putting on equipment, including some gear he still holds onto. Winnipeg Jets Game Days On Winnipeg Jets game days, hockey writers Mike McIntyre and Ken Wiebe send news, notes and quotes from the morning skate, as well as injury updates and lineup decisions. Arrives a few hours prior to puck drop. 'I don't know if it was his jock or his underwear, but I'm sure he's still wearing this, or somehow kept it 20 years after,' said Pouliot, who still keeps in touch with the Pittsburgh Penguins captain. Despite Crosby's intensity at the rink, Pouliot said he was an easygoing guy who liked to crack jokes. 'He's very humble, that was a plus,' he said. 'You never know with those superstars, how they act off the ice, but this guy was really humble and a really amazing guy.' — With files from Gemma Karstens-Smith. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 27, 2025.
