Kelowna Rockets send 20 players back to their respective hockey programs

Photo: Paige Bednorz

With training camp winding down, the Kelowna Rockets have again trimmed their roster.

The Rockets sent 20 players back to their respective programs on Thursday, leaving 32 players still in town.

Those released from camp include:

• Adam Kelly – G – 2005
• Rowan Guest – D – 2006
• Jake DeMone – D – 2007
• Ryder Mead – D – 2007
• Lincoln Ponce – D – 2007
• Rhett Serfas – D – 2007
• Daniel Tverdovsky – D – 2007
• Dayton Abbott – F – 2006
• Liam Donovan – F – 2006
• Luke MacKenzie – F – 2006
• Brendan McFatridge – F – 2006
• Jacob Baumann – F – 2007
• Jasper Fellbaum – F – 2007
• Eric Han – F – 2007
• Jaxon Kehrig – F – 2007
• Logan Mehl – F – 2007
• Jonah Pinel – F – 2007
• Jace Rask – F – 2007
• Gus Schill – F – 2007
• Jaxen Smyth – F – 2007

Among those remaining in camp are 19 forwards, nine defencemen and four goaltenders.

The moves leave 17-year-old Kael Svenson and Ben Polhill along with 16-year-old Nathan Kam to battle for the backup role behind starting netminder Jari Kykkanen.

Two first-year defencemen Jackson Gillespie, the Rockets first round selection in the 2022 U.S. draft and Lachlan Staniforth, a sixth round 2022 WHL selection still in camp along with seven others who completed the season with the Rockets a year ago.

The camp roster also includes forward Andrew Cristall who will take part in the Washington Capitals rookie camp starting next weekend.

Imports Gabriel Szturc and Jakub Stancl are not attending camp but remain on the Rockets 50 player protected list.

The Rockets kick off the abbreviated pre season schedule with back-to-back games with the Kamloops Blazers this weekend. The teams meet Friday in Kamloops then back at Prospera Place Saturday.

Two dollars from all pre season game tickets sold will go to the Cops for Kids charity.