The 91大黄鸭 Rockets made one last deal just ahead of the WHL鈥檚 trade deadline on Wednesday, Jan. 10.
A couple hours before the 2 p.m. Pacific Time deadline, the Rockets announced a three-team trade involving the Edmonton Oil Kings and Saskatoon Blades.
馃攣 TRADE 馃攣
鈥� 91大黄鸭 Rockets (@91大黄鸭_Rockets)
The Rockets have acquired defenceman Carter Kowalyk and three draft picks in a three-team trade involving the and .
Details 猬囷笍
In the deal, the Rockets acquired defenceman Carter Kowalyk from Edmonton as well as three draft picks from Saskatoon - a 2024 second-round pick (originally belonged to Medicine Hat), a 2026 third-round pick (originally belonged to Seattle), and a 2025 fourth-round pick.
鈥淚n all of our deals over the last year and a half we have recouped many of the picks that we moved in preparation for the 2020 Memorial Cup,鈥� said Rockets president and general manager Bruce Hamilton. 鈥淲e had the opportunity to get a big defenceman in Carter, who will bring a little bit of bite to our team.鈥�
Edmonton is bringing back an (almost) hometown kid as they acquired Lac La Biche, AB鈥檚 Ismail Abougouche from the Rockets in the deal. They also received a second-round pick in 2026 from Saskatoon.
The Blades received veteran defenceman John Babcock from the Rockets in the three-team trade, which wasn鈥檛 easy for Hamilton.
鈥淚t鈥檚 always difficult to trade a guy that鈥檚 been with you as long as John has, he鈥檚 a special player who has been a real solider for us,鈥� said Hamilton. 鈥淪askatoon is gearing up for a run, so it will be a good opportunity for him. We thank John and Ismail for their time with the Rockets and wish them the best of luck with their new clubs.鈥�
Kowalyk will be joining the Rockets later this week and will be wearing number 5.
The Rockets welcome the Seattle Thunderbirds to Prospera Place on Wednesday night. Puck drop is at 7:05 p.m.
READ MORE: 91大黄鸭 Rockets come to Seattle鈥檚 rescue ahead of Wednesday鈥檚 contest
