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Kelowna Rockets will ice a very young team for their 24-game season

10 rookies on Rocket roster

The Kelowna Rockets will feature one of the youngest lineups in franchise history when they return to the ice later this month.

The Rockets unveiled their 26 player roster Thursday, two days after the BC Division was given the green light to play an abbreviated 24-game schedule by provincial health officer, Dr. Bonnie Henry.

More than half of the roster (15) includes players 17 years of age or younger.

Four of those, forwards Rilen Kovacevic, Scott Cousins and Nolan Flamand and defenceman John Babcock are 16.

The team is also bringing 2020 first round bantam selection Andrew Cristall, 15, into the team's cohort. Teams are being allowed to utilize their first round picks from last year if their current season has concluded.

Both Dillon Hamaliuk and Kaedan Korcak are also returning from their respective American Hockey League teams.

Players will begin self-quarantining on Saturday then, upon arrival in Kelowna the following weekend, will quarantine for another seven days.

A one-week training camp will follow, before the season kicks off Friday, March 26.

Under the league's return to play agreement with the province, fans will not be permitted in the rink during training camp or for games.

The Victoria Royals will also be based out of Kelowna while Prince George and Vancouver will join the Blazers in a Kamloops hub.



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