A swift and unexpected four-game exit from last spring鈥檚 playoffs made for a long offseason for the 91大黄鸭 Rockets.

On the eve of the club鈥檚 training camp at Prospera Place, GM Bruce Hamilton expects Rockets鈥� coaches and players alike to get to work on making amends for an unsatisfying conclusion to the 2017-18 campaign.

鈥淕oing out four straight last year was a real disappointment after winning our division,鈥� said Hamilton. 鈥淔or the players, there鈥檚 certainly some pressure on them to be better but there鈥檚 pressure on the coaches to be better, too. They鈥檒l need to get this team prepared, ready to go and get out of the gate fast.鈥�

Between 55 and 60 players are expected to be on the ice for the start of main training camp this weekend.

With head coach Jason Smith at the helm for his third season, the Rockets will be looking to overcome the departures of a handful of key players, including forwards Dillon Dube and Kole Lind and defencemen Cal Foote, Gordie Ballhorn and James Hilsedager.

Up front, Hamilton said the Rockets will be relying on a strong group of 19-year-old forwards, including Kyle Topping, Erik Gardiner, Leif Mattson, Conner Bruggen-Cate and Jack Cowell.

鈥淲e have five real good 19-year-olds, they鈥檙e going to have sort it out, who鈥檚 going to be on the first line and where they fit in,鈥� Hamilton. 鈥淚 think we鈥檙e going to have some interesting battles with guys trying to position themselves on the second, third and fourth lines.鈥�

Hamilton said the club鈥檚 strength this season could well be in goal as James Porter looks to build on a solid rookie campaign. Roman Basran, whose 2017-18 season was cut short by a knee injury, is expected to challenge for his share of playing time between the pipes.

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鈥� 91大黄鸭 Rockets (@91大黄鸭_Rockets)

鈥淧orter鈥檚 had a real good summer and once we get Basran back healthy, we鈥漧l have a real solid pair back there,鈥� he said. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 one of the most important things you need going into a season.鈥�

If there鈥檚 any area of concern, Hamilton points to the defensive corps鈥攚ithout Foote, Hilsendager and Ballhorn鈥攂ut even then, there鈥檚 reason for optimism.

鈥�(Kaedan) Korczak who was at the under-18s, he鈥檚 made tremendous strides, (Libor) Zabransky will have to step up for us, and our Finnish player (Lassi Thomson) is an exceptional, so we鈥檝e got some guys there that鈥檒l step in and play,鈥� he said. 鈥�

鈥淭he guys who were six, seven, eight on defense last year are going to have to work real hard to get a spot here, which is always real positive.鈥�

The Rockets kick off their exhibition season Friday, Aug. 31 at home to the Victoria Royals.

91大黄鸭鈥檚 2018-19 WHL regular season opens with a home-and-home set against the rival Kamloops Blazers鈥擣riday in Sept. 21 in Kamloops, then again Saturday, Sept. 22 at Prospera Place.

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