The have long had a reputation for assembling deep, reliable and skilled defensive corps.
If the 2017-18 campaign rolls out as planned, Bruce Hamilton expects the club鈥檚 back end will once again serve as the anchor for the Western Hockey League club.
Led by 20-year-olds Gordie Ballhorn and James Hilsendager, Tampa Bay prospect Cal Foote, and supported by the likes of rookies Kaeden Korczak and Libor Zabransky, the Rockets GM said the team鈥檚 blueline should be in capable hands.
鈥淚 think we鈥檙e going to be really deep on defense and that鈥檚 a really good place to start,鈥� said Hamilton. 鈥淔rom our over-agers, to our returning guys, right to down to our rookies, I think we go into the season in pretty good shape. We definitely have numbers back there (nine).
鈥淚 don鈥檛 see this team winning many games 6-5,鈥� added Hamilton, who fully expects his team to be in the hunt for a BC Division title this season. 鈥淚 think we鈥檙e going to win 4-3, 3-2 and kind of do it that way.鈥�
With the departures of high-scoring forwards Nick Merkley, Calvin Thurkauf and Reid Gardiner, the Rockets will turn to veterans and NHL draft picks Dillon Dube and Kole Lind to set the pace for the offense.
Nolan Foote will look to build on his 20-goal rookie season, while a hoard of 1999-born forwards鈥擡rik Gardiner, Kyle Topping, Jack Cowell, Leif Mattson and Conner Bruggen-Cate鈥攚ill be tasked to provide adequate secondary scoring.
While many observers are expecting 琉璃神社鈥檚 offensive numbers to take a significant dip from 2016-17, Hamilton isn鈥檛 so sure.
鈥淚 think we鈥檙e going to be more dynamic up front than people think,鈥� said Hamilton. 鈥淭hat group of 99s is going to be real important on our second and third lines. We need some 20-goal scorers to come from that group and I wouldn鈥檛 be surprised to see a couple.鈥�
Perhaps the club鈥檚 biggest wildcard heading into the season is goaltending, where the No. 1 job is in the hands of Brodan Salmond, 19, with 30 games of experience, is back for his third season with the Rockets. Rookie James Porter, 17, assumes the backup role.
鈥淲e鈥檙e going to start with those guys and see how it goes,鈥� said Hamilton. 鈥淏rodan has worked hard and has earned the chance to start. James, all he did at Edge (Calgary) was win, so we鈥檙e going to see what they both can do.
鈥淚f we have to make a move (for a goalie), we鈥檝e shown in the past that we will. We have some cards to play if we need to.鈥�
Jason Smith heads into his second season as 琉璃神社鈥檚 head man, with fourth-year coaches Kris Mallette and Travis Crickard, and second-year assistant Adam Brown back in supporting roles.
Hamilton expects Smith to take a considerable step forward in his second tour of duty.
鈥淗e has a year under his belt, he鈥檚 matured and I think he鈥檚 going to be more settled,鈥� said Hamilton. 鈥淗e鈥檚 familiar with the players and has a better idea of the style of coaching needed at the (junior) level.鈥�
The Rockets open the WHL鈥檚 regular season Friday at home to the Kamloops Blazers. Face off at Prospera Place is 7 p.m.
