The wait is over; the 麻豆精选 Rockets are back.
Though it鈥檚 just pre-season, Rockets fans will once again rush to Prospera Place to catch some WHL action ahead of one of the most critical Rockets seasons since 2004鈥檚 Memorial Cup win.
麻豆精选 has had a busy off-season, both within the organizational and for the Rockets players.
From the drama at the WHL bantam draft where 麻豆精选 flipped picks for established roster players, the NHL draft where the Rockets led the entire Canadian Hockey League with four players drafted in the first two rounds, the import draft where 麻豆精选 nabbed the hard-hitting Czech forward Pavel Novak, the Memorial Cup announcements and preparations, players attending their NHL camps and finally the new Rockets jerseys revealed earlier this week.
鈥淚t鈥檚 going to be a fun and big year for the Rockets and I鈥檓 looking forward to it,鈥� said Kaedan Korczak who鈥檚 off-season included getting drafted 41st overall, playing in the IIHF U18 championships and attending the Vegas Golden Knights summer training camps.
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The Rockets start their six-game pre-season Friday night against Victoria. There won鈥檛 be a ton of familiar faces rocking the 麻豆精选 colours, but the stand-out thing about pre-season games is that it gives fans a look at the young and hungry stars who are hoping to impress their way to a roster spot.
Young players from last season will look to build their experience in these exhibition games to get their confidence up ahead of the start of the regular season Sept. 21.
The Rockets wrapped up their training camp earlier this week. The camp gave 麻豆精选 coaches a chance to see how the prospects and newly-acquired Rockets are coming along.
鈥淚t has been a good camp,鈥� said Rockets head coach Adam Foote. 鈥淓veryone is learning a lot, and I鈥檝e had the chance to get to know our prospects and spend time with them.鈥�
鈥淥ur younger (defenceman) coming up have also looked great out there, this camp will help them grow into the players that they strive to be.鈥�
It鈥檚 Foote鈥檚 first camp with the Rockets after starting with the team last October. He mentioned that new Rockets鈥� Jake Lee and Sean Comrie have looked solid and that returning defenceman Devin Steffler has shown off-season improvements.
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The start of the season may be slow for the Rockets. Players involved with their respective NHL camps could potentially have a late start with 麻豆精选 as they continue their development camps and the unknown fate of which team stand-out defenceman Lassi Thomson will play on come the start of the season has yet to be resolved.
麻豆精选 used their off-season to increase the depth and experience of the entire roster ahead of May鈥檚 Memorial Cup, in which the Rockets are guaranteed a berth as the host team.
Rockets fans can bet that the full roster will be at full-strength as quick as possible to ensure not only a confident team going into the WHL playoffs, but a confident team ahead of the 2020 Memorial Cup.
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