Kelowna Rockets open training camp to public for first time

The Kelowna Rockets will open their annual training camp to the public for the first time this year, giving fans an early look at some of the organization’s top prospects.

Training camp runs Aug. 26 to 30 at Prospera Place, with four days of practices, games and small-area competition before the camp wraps up with the DKL Financial Young Guns Game on Aug. 30 at 11 a.m.

Admission to the Young Guns Game will be by donation to the Central Okanagan Food Bank. The game will feature prospects divided into Team Keith and Team Weber as they compete for a chance to move closer to earning a spot with the Rockets.

The camp’s teams are named after five prominent former Rockets: Duncan Keith, Shea Weber, Jamie Benn, Mikael Backlund and Tyler Myers.

Keith was part of Kelowna’s 2003 WHL championship team and went on to win three Stanley Cups, two Norris Trophies and two Olympic gold medals with Canada. Weber won two WHL titles with the Rockets, was the 2005 WHL playoff MVP and later became a seven-time NHL all-star and two-time Olympic champion.

Benn helped Kelowna win the 2009 WHL championship before winning the NHL scoring title in 2015 with the Dallas Stars. Backlund was also part of the 2009 championship team and went on to play more than 1,000 NHL games with the Calgary Flames, while Myers was named WHL playoff MVP in 2009 and won the Calder Trophy as NHL rookie of the year in 2010.

The Rockets will begin on-ice competition Aug. 27, with games scheduled throughout Friday and Saturday. The full camp schedule is available through the Rockets.