WHL  

Rockets forward added to Canada's team at U18 championship

Iginla off to Europe

Photo: Steve Dunsmoor-file

Tij Iginla still has some hockey left to play.

The Kelowna Rockets forward has been added to Team Canada's roster for the World U18 World Championships.

The son of NHL legend Jarome Iginla was the final player named to the squad competing in the event beginning Thursday in Espoo and Vantaa, Finland.

Iginla had a breakout season with the Rockets, finishing with a team-high 47 goals and 37 assists during the regular season. He added nine goals and six assists in 11 post season games.

He is no stranger to wearing the Maple Leaf, having previously represented Canada at the World U17 Hockey Challenge.

Iginla is eligible for this year's NHL draft. He was rated ninth among North American skaters in the final Central Scouting rankings.

Kelowna Rockets sign 18-year-old centre prospect

Rockets ink prospect

Photo: CSSHL

The Kelowna Rockets have added to their forward depth.

The Rockets Tuesday announced their have signed 2006-born centre Connor Pankratz to a standard scholarship and development agreement.

Pankratz was listed by the Rockets after going undrafted in the WHL prospects draft.

"From Day 1 I decided Kelowna is where I want to go and signed, I honestly couldn't be more excited," said Pankratz.

"Coming into a group where they had a good run in the playoffs and knowing what we're building for next year, it's really exciting to be a part of it."

The 5'11" centre led St. George's School U18 Prep of the CSSHL in scoring with 21 goals and 27 assists in 29 games this past season.

"Connor is a hard-working, highly competitive centreman," said Rockets assistant general manager Curtis Hamilton.

"He was a leader and the captain of his team, which we covet. He's a 200-foot player, with some scoring ability, and we believe will mix in well with that age group and will easily blend into our lineup."

Andrew Cristall's season will continue in AHL playoffs

Cristall gets pro look

Kelowna Rockets forward Andrew Cristall may make his professional hockey debut sooner than anticipated.

Cristall's WHL season concluded last Friday night when the Rockets were eliminated by Prince George in five games in their Western Conference semi-final series.

Today, the Washington Capitals, who selected Cristall in the second round of last year's NHL draft, assigned him to their American Hockey League affiliate in Hershey.

The defending AHL champion Bears are awaiting their second round opponent in the Atlantic Division playoffs after securing a first round bye.

Cristall accumulated 111 points during the regular season including 40 goals and 71 assists. He added four goals and 11 assists in 11 post season games.

While Cristall is able to play in the AHL during the playoffs he will not be able to play full-time next season.

Cristall, who will be entering his 19-year-old season, would have to make the NHL squad or be returned to the Rockets.

Rockets fell 6-3 in Prince George bringing their season to a close

Rockets season ends in PG

Photo: Steve Dunsmoor

The Kelowna Rockets season came to an end in Prince George Friday night.

The Cougars scored five unanswered goals in a 10 minute span of the second period cruising to a 6-3 victory to take the Western Conference semi-final series in five games.

The Rockets didn't go down without a fight, keeping the game close for the first half of the game before the Cougars offence exploded.

Trailing 1-0 after one, Andrew Cristall and Tij Iginla scored 15 seconds apart to give the Rockets a 2-1 lead.

Iginla intercepted a pass inside his own blueline and sent Cristall in alone. Cristall deked to the backhand going five hole to beat Joshua Ravensbergen.

The Rockets worked the puck back into the Cougars end off the ensuing faceoff. Cristall and Iginla played give-and-go with Iginla finding a seam between Ravensbergen and the post to go up 2-1.

The lead lasted five minutes.

Jett Lajoie tied it then two each from Riley Heidt and Zac Funk sent the Cougars on their way.

Captain Gabriel Szturc, playing his last game in a Rockets uniform got one back early in the third but they were unable to get any closer.

The game Friday also marked the final junior game for defenceman Kayden Sadhra-Kang and forward Dylan Wightman who leaves after playing parts of five seasons with the Rockets.

Management will now turn their attention to the WHL's U.S. and entry drafts.

The Rockets will select fourth in the entry draft May 9 and 11th in each of the two rounds of the U.S. draft the day before the main draft.

The Cougars will now face Portland in the Western Conference final after the Winterhawks closed out Everett in four straight.

Saskatoon and Moose Jaw will meet in the Eastern Conference final series.

Both will begin next Friday.