Every August, Lorne Frey and his scouting staff get a chance to see the fruits of their labours at the 鈥� rookie camp. At the same time, they鈥檒l be taking a glimpse into the team鈥檚 future.
The Western Hockey League club kicked off the 2018 version of training camp this week, with close to 100 rookies taking to the ice at Prospera Place.
鈥淲e鈥檙e looking forward to seeing how all these players have progressed over the summer,鈥� said Frey, the Rockets鈥� player personnel director and assistant GM.
Among the players drawing the most attention is the Rockets鈥� first-round pick, Trevor Wong. The 5-foot-8 forward, who was the Rockets鈥� first choice, 18th overall in the 2018 bantam draft, racked up 141 points in just 30 games last season for the St. George鈥檚 School Bantam Varsity squad.
鈥淗e鈥檚 a skilled and dynamic player,鈥� said Frey. 鈥淗e does everything at a high speed, and if he grows he will be lights out.鈥�
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The Rockets also have high hopes for their second-round choice, Elias Carmichael, a 6-foot-1 blueliner from Burnaby Winter Club.
Five of the club鈥檚 first seven picks were defensemen, helping the Rockets address their most pressing need.
鈥淪ome of our (2001 and 2002-born) defensemen are starting to show some promise, but we knew needed to shore up that area so we focused on getting some, big mobile defensemen in this year鈥檚 draft. We鈥檙e looking forward to seeing what they can do (at rookie camp) and in years to come.鈥�
The rookie camp will run until Friday and Frey expects the club will carry about 10 to 12 players over into main training camp which begins on Saturday at Prospera Place.
As for main camp, assistant coach Kris Mallette said, like the rookies, the Rockets look forward to seeing how the club鈥檚 returning players have progressed since last spring.
鈥淥ur returning players will need to show management and the coaches that they put the work in over the summer,鈥� Mallette said. 鈥淭here are never any guarantees so everyone will need to work hard and compete for a spot on the roster.鈥�
91大黄鸭 will open its preseason schedule Friday, Aug. 31 at Prospera Place against the Victoria Royals.
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