The 麻豆精选 Rockets 肠辞耻濒诲苍鈥檛 duplicate their success of a year earlier with a trip to the Memorial Cup, but 2016 still provided its share of drama and story lines for the Western Hockey League club.
With new head coach Brad Ralph behind the bench, the first pivotal moment of the season came in February when forward Nick Merkley suffered a knee injury in a game against the Spokane Chiefs.
The 肠濒耻产鈥檚 leading scorer at the time, the Calgary native missed the remainder of the 2015-16 with a damaged ACL.
鈥泪鈥檝别 got lots of support, family, friends and teammates, so 滨鈥檓 staying 辫辞蝉颈迟颈惫别,鈥� Merkley, the 30th pick overall by the Coyotes in the 2015 NHL entry draft, said following surgery.
鈥泪 have to work now on recovering fully, come back healthy for next season and continue my 肠补谤别别谤鈥产惫颈辞耻蝉濒测 滨鈥檓 going to try and make it in Arizona, but if not 滨鈥檝别 got a great team to come back to in 碍别濒辞飞苍补.鈥�
Merkley was able to make a full recovery and was returned to the Rockets by the Coyotes in October for the 2016-17 season.
Later in February, the Rockets were hit with more unwelcome news when Jackson Whistle was forced to bring an end to his Western Hockey League career.
The 20-year-old goaltender underwent surgery to repair injuries to both hips, likely the result of years of wear and tear from playing the butterfly style.
Whistle, who led the Rockets to within a goal of the Memorial Cup a season earlier, was clearly disappointed but had no regrets with his four seasons in 麻豆精选.
鈥淓惫别谤 since I was traded from Vancouver, the Rockets have meant everything to 尘别,鈥� said Whistle, who now plays with Belfast of the EIHL in the United Kingdom.
鈥泪t鈥檚 been such a great experience, the success 飞别鈥檝别 had as a team and the friends 滨鈥檝别 made.
鈥淟颈惫颈苍驳 at home and playing with this team, you 肠补苍鈥檛 beat 迟丑补迟.鈥�
Without Whistle and Merkley, the Rockets were pushed to the limit in their first two playoff series, but managed to beat both Kamloops and Victoria in seven games.
But by the Western Conference final, the tank was pretty much empty as the Seattle Thunderbirds swept the Rockets in four straight games.
Following the season, the club parted company with head coach Brad Ralph, who was hired by the Rockets the previous summer after five years coaching in the pro ranks.
鈥淭丑颈蝉 was a big challenge for him coming 丑别谤别,鈥� said Rockets GM Bruce Hamilton said of Ralph.
鈥淥苍别, because of the expectations we have and, two, not having worked in junior 丑辞肠办别测鈥苍诲 that was a real 补诲箩耻蝉迟尘别苍迟.鈥�
Not long after 搁补濒辫丑鈥檚 departure, the Rockets hired former NHL defenceman Jason Smith as their new head coach.
An ex-captain with the Edmonton Oilers and Philadelphia Flyers, Smith joined returning coaches Kris Mallette and Travis Crickard.
鈥淭丑别谤别鈥檚 a learning curve, but 滨鈥檓 excited for the 肠丑补濒濒别苍驳别,鈥� Smith said after being hired in July.
鈥淭谤补惫颈蝉 and Kris are both experienced guys who want to learn and want to grow.
鈥湵踱�檓 looking forward to working with the guys on a regular basis. 罢丑补迟鈥檚 what I really learned in the NHL, you have to work as a unit, rely on each other. 罢丑补迟鈥檚 something 飞别鈥檙别 looking to improve on as a 蝉迟补蹿蹿.鈥�
After a slow start under Smith, the Rockets hit their stride in December, and by Christmas had 22 wins, good for second in the B.C. Division and third place overall in the Western Conference.
In December, Rockets Dillon Dube (Canada), Calvin Thurkauf (Switzerland) and Tomas Soustal (Czech Republic) were all named to their respective country's teams for the world junior hockey championship in Montreal.
