With puck drop on the 2025-26 Kootenay International Junior Hockey League season coming on Sept. 19, kijhl.ca is providing fans with a preview on all 21 teams. Next in the Quick Shift series are the Golden Rockets.
The Rockets finished fifth in the Eddie Mountain division last season with a record of 11-22-7-4, missing the playoffs by three points. Head coach-general manager Jed Houseman heads into the season feeling really good about his team, especially in goal.
Along with acquiring 20-year-old Evan Leggett from the Williams Lake Mustangs, Houseman added Beck Boiteau in a trade with the SJHL’s Estevan Bruins. The Medicine Hat, Alta. native started the season in the WHL with the Everett Silvertips before finishing with the Bruins.
“We are really liking what we see out of Boiteau,” said Houseman. “We’re excited to have him and he has been working hard with our goaltending coach Josh Thorimbert for a while.”
Returning players: F-Cooper Thompson (43-10-14-24), Simon Mendiola (29-5-7-12), Jackson Gair (32-3-8-11), Brett Krawchuk (405-5-10), Richard Urvald (8-0-1-1), D- Brock McIlwain (38-10-9-19), Chaz Jaeb (44-8-6-14), Brandon Spilchen (44-4-8-12), Maddox DePasquale (40-1-8-9).
Acquisitions: Leggett (21-6-11-0, 4.20 GAA, .896 SP – trade from Williams Lake Mustangs), Kanye Huang – (18-2-3-5 – trade from Estevan Bruins – SJHL/ 29-11-10-21 with Golden last season), Boiteau (12-2-6-1-1, 4.51 GAA, .860 SP – trade from Estevan Bruins – SJHL), Evan Murray (35-6-26-32 – trade from Quesnel River Rush), Justin Mol (40-13-15-28 – trade from Kamloops Storm).
Houseman said that Leggett, 20, brings calmness and great character. The Rockets also have Will Rowan in the mix.
Rookies: F- Emmett Long – Bow Valley Timberwolves U18AA (34-15-20-35), Jayden Nunweiler – Calgary Royals CRAA Gold U18 AA (28-12-16-28), Daniel Brown – Calgary Northstars CNHA Black U18AA (29-11-11-22), Sean Wootton – CRAA U18AA (27-9-9-18), D- Brendan Kolbjornsrud – Calgary Royals CRAA Gold U18AA (31-2-9-12), Myles Morson – Calgary Stamps U18AA – (30-2-13-15), Jackson Folliott – Moose Jaw Warriors U18AA (27-9-7-16), Griffin Brown (via trade from Revelstoke Grizzlies – 35-0-9-9 – Calgary Buffaloes U18AAA).
Team Outlook: The Rockets are showing great cohesion thanks to a lot of team bonding.
“I think that camaraderie amongst the group and just having a lot of good character, good humans is going to go a long way for us,” said Houseman. “We’re excited and that chemistry will help the culture.”
With a solid group of returning players and those added through trades, Houseman wants to continue building the confidence that was growing from late last season.
“Our team played well down the stretch,” said Houseman. “I liked their tenacity on the forecheck.”
