About the Kelowna Rockets The Kelowna Rockets are one of the top hockey franchises in the Canadian Hockey League. They play in the Western Hockey League, in Kelowna, British Columbia. The Rockets have won the WHL championship four times and have competed in five Memorial Cups, capturing the 2004 Memorial Cup on home ice. Instructors: Kris Mallette, a Rocket Alumni, patrolled the blueline as a stay at home defenceman for the Rockets between 1996 and 1999. The Philadelphia Flyers drafted him in the third round of the 1997 NHL Entry Draft. Mallette then went on to a nine-year professional career before retiring due to injury following the 2008-09 season. Following his pro career, Mallette was an assistant coach at various levels of hockey, he joined the Rockets coaching staff as an assistant coach ahead of the 2014-2015 season. He was promoted to Head Coach of the Rockets in February of 2020. Vernon Fiddler, also an alum of the Rockets, suited up for 152 games with Kelowna over two-plus seasons as a dependable forward, beginning in 1997-98 and ending in 2000-01. Undrafted once again after his junior career, Fiddler worked his way to the NHL from the minors. He appeared in 877 NHL games over 14 seasons, collecting 261 points (104G, 157A) until his retirement after the 2016-2017 campaign. In his final NHL season, he helped the Nashville Predators to the Stanley Cup Finals for the first time in their franchise history. Before joining the Rockets coaching staff as an assistant coach in the summer of 2019, Fiddler was an organizational coach with the Stars. He assisted with skills and development coaching with Dallas and their AHL affiliate the Texas Stars. Curtis Hamilton appeared in 216 games with the Saskatoon Blades over five seasons collecting 173 points (67G, 106A). The former second-round pick of the Edmonton Oilers has represented Team Canada multiple times; he won a silver medal at the 2011 World Junior Championship and the Spengler Cup in 2018. This past season he played for the EIHL’s Belfast Giants where he put up 33 points (16G, 17A) in 45 games.
