Alumni

The Alumni:

Many great players have passed through the Kelowna/Tacoma Rockets franchise over the years from NHL stars to European legends and every level in between.The Rockets can boast one of the best crops of alumni around. Not only are there some of the best players in the NHL (Shea Weber), there are some of the biggest characters (Nolan Yonkman) and some of the most well-liked and popular players to wear Rockets uniforms.

Each summer they all gather for the annual Kelowna Rockets Alumni Golf Tournament and Charity Hockey Game, raising money for the Kelowna General Hospital. In Total the event has raised close to $300,000.

The Rockets are in the midst of a committment to raise a further $200,000 for the Kelowna hospital with funds being directed to the KGH orthopedic ward.

From Canadian Olympians Shea Weber and Duncan Keith, to homegrown talent Josh Gorges and many fan favourites over the years, the Rockets alumni are talented, giving and always bring back memories to the fans that watched them as junior hockey players.

If you have pictures or information on any Rockets alumni, please e-mail kevin@kelownarockets.com.

Thanks for your continued support of the Kelowna Rockets.

Shea Weber - Nashville Predators

Shea Weber was a hard hitting, hard shooting stud defenceman during a three year stretch for the Kelowna Rockets, culminating with a Memorial Cup Championship in his final WHL season in 2004-05.

That year Weber had 18 points in 19 playoff games to lead the Rockets to the title. After playing five games as a 15-year-old in 2001-02, Weber put up 18 points as a rookie, followed that with a 32 point campaign and then had 41 points in the championship season.

From nearby Sicamous, Weber was an undrafted walk-on to the Rockets camp.

Josh Gorges - Montreal Canadiens

A symbol of perseverance, Josh Gorges is the Kelowna kid who knocked down every wall in front of him during his rise up the hockey ranks. Undrafted in the WHL bantam draft and the NHL draft, Gorges has established himself as a top four NHL defenceman, first with the San Jose Sharks and now after three complete seasons with the Montreal Canadiens.

Gorges was electric as a Rockets defender putting up 41, 52 and 49 points in his final three seasons. In the 2004 Memorial Cup run, Gorges had 15 points in 17 games.

A Kelowna Minor Hockey product Gorges is a regular at all Rockets functions in the off season.

Tyler Myers - Buffalo Sabres

The newest of an incredible number of Rockets defencemn to reach the NHL, Tyler Myers rise to fame includes a Calder Trophy as the reigning NHL rookie of the year.

Myers skyrocketing talent surpassed even his 6-foot-8 frame in his final year with the Rockets when he had 42 points in the regular season and 20 points in 22 games, carrying the Rockets to the 2009 Memorial Cup final.

Luke Schenn - Toronto Maple Leafs

After three bruising years with the Kelowna Rockets Luke Schenn made the jump to the NHL as an 18-year-old. Schenn put the fear into opposing players as a WHL blueliner, scoring 28 and 29 points in his final two seasons and putting up over 100 PIMS each of those years.

Where Are They Now? From Champions Sports Magazine