Rockets Defense Factory

[RGM81]

http://www.kelownarockets.com/hockey...3&section_id=5

For obvious reasons this story made me smile this morning. A really good read with some great comments from Josh about how the organization prepares you to be a professional hockey player...all while growing up in the best city on the planet.

It wasn’t long after his 11th birthday that the dream began to seriously unfold.

The Western Hockey League’s Rockets had just moved from Tacoma to Kelowna, and no one in our city was more captivated with the prospects of what opportunities the franchise shift presented than Josh Gorges.

The eager, young defenceman vowed he would eventually play for the Rockets and, one day, just maybe, take it one step further to the big time.

“When the Rockets first moved here, hockey was absolutely everything to me…it’s all I ever thought about,” said Gorges, who captained the Rockets to the Memorial Cup title in 2004.

“I was at almost every game and I knew right away that’s what I wanted to be. I didn’t know the difference between juniors and the pros back then, but it didn’t matter. I got to watch those players and see what it was all about.

“It was very exciting for me then, and it was very exciting when I actually got a chance to play for my hometown team. I feel very fortunate with the way everything has worked out for me.”

[bidds55]

I have to say, the organization really has pumped out more than their fair share of solid NHL defensemen, especially in the last 4-5 years.

[jester240]

Impressive to see one team pump out that much talent.

[habscards]

Shea Weber-Duncan Keith
Tyler Myers-Sheldon Souray
Luke Schenn-Alex Edler
Josh Gorges-Scott Hannan
Kyle Cumiskey

I would say that they could make a decent defence for a NHL team.