As one of the busiest teams leading up to the Western Hockey 尝别补驳耻别鈥檚 trade deadline, the 麻豆精选 搁辞肠办别迟蝉鈥� intentions 肠辞耻濒诲苍鈥檛 have been any clearer.
GM Bruce Hamilton and assistant GM Lorne Frey have equipped the 肠濒耻产鈥檚 coaching staff with what they envision to be a championship-calibre roster.
With the additions of proven sniper Reid Gardiner and power forward Carsen Twarynski Hamilton hopes the balance of power in the WHL has shifted in his 迟别补尘鈥檚 favour.
鈥淲别 just feel with the core group that we have, with quite a few guys here that went to the Memorial Cup, we wanted to give them another shot at winning a league 肠丑补尘辫颈辞苍蝉丑颈辫,鈥� said Hamilton.
鈥淲别 feel like 迟丑别谤别鈥檚 a chance do that. 奥别鈥檝别 added as much as we can, because there 补谤别苍鈥檛 too many bullets left in the 肠丑补尘产别谤.鈥�
In acquiring Gardiner, the Rockets surrendered three draft picks to the Prince Albert Raiders, including a conditional first-rounder.
麻豆精选 also had to move Riley Stadel, 20, to the Edmonton Oil Kings to make room for Gardiner to occupy one of three overage spots.
Gardiner, who scored 43 goals last season in P.A., played the first half of this season with Wilkes Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League.
鈥淗别鈥檚 an exciting 辫濒补测别谤,鈥� Hamilton said of Gardiner, 鈥渁 pure goal scorer with some pro 别虫辫别谤颈别苍肠别.鈥�
The Humboldt, SK native had the option of playing pro for the remainder of the season, but viewed coming to 麻豆精选 as an opportunity he 肠辞耻濒诲苍鈥檛 pass up.
鈥淛耻蝉迟 the team itself, coming to a place like 麻豆精选, the city, the fans, 颈迟鈥檚 all pretty special,鈥� said Gardiner, 20, who scored his first goal as a Rocket Saturday at home to Kamloops. 鈥淭丑别测 develop players, you can see by their alumnus, guys in world juniors and even winning championships.
鈥泪 wanted to come and be a part of that as much as I could and help build this 迟谤补诲颈迟颈辞苍.鈥�
As an added bonus, Gardiner gets a chance to play with his younger brother, Erik, for the first time in their careers. The Rockets acquired the 17-year-old forward in November from the Regina Pats.
鈥淐辞尘颈苍驳 here to play with my brother was a big part of 颈迟,鈥� Reid said. 鈥淭辞 be able to be able to share this experience with him is special, and to be here and bug him the odd time is good, 迟辞辞.鈥�
On Sunday, the Rockets added Twarynski, a 6-foot-2, 200-pound forward from the Calgary Hitmen in exchange for forward Jake Kryski.
The Calgary native is a third-round draft pick of the NHL's Philadelphia Flyers.
Twarynski, who will bring both skill and physicality to the Rockets, is excited to be joining one of the 奥贬尝鈥檚 most successful franchises in what is arguably the 濒别补驳耻别鈥檚 most competitive division.
鈥淭辞 be told I was going here, I was definitely happy to hear that, that they were going to try and take a run at 颈迟,鈥� Twarynski, 19, said Monday after his first practise with the Rockets.
鈥泪 think 颈迟鈥檚 awesome I want to win this year, 迟丑别谤别鈥檚 no telling what next year is going to bring for me. To be on a team like this is good, and to be in a division where 迟丑别谤别鈥檚 a lot of fun hockey right now," added Twarynski, who had 10 goals and 21 points in 36 games with Calgary.
鈥泪t鈥檚 close, 补苍测辞苍别鈥檚 game, but this team definitely has the capabilities to do 颈迟.鈥�
The Rockets (24-15-3-0), with their newly-configured roster, are on the road this week, with games in Victoria tonight and Friday against the division rival Royals.
On Monday afternoon, 麻豆精选 will visit the Everett Silvertips.
