Shannon Coulter
Last season, the Okanagan Rockets faced juggernaut after juggernaut to solidify their spot at Canada’s U18 Men’s National Club Championship.
This year? They were the ones defeating the underdogs to return to the TELUS Cup.
The Rockets—who finished fifth and missed out on the semifinals a year ago in Chilliwack—ranked second in the B.C. Elite Hockey League (BCEHL) , just one point shy of the first-place Vancouver North East Chiefs. In the playoffs, Okanagan swept the Fraser Valley Thunderbirds, Cariboo Cougars and Thompson Blazers to retain the BCEHL championship.
At the Pacific Regional, the Rockets met the Edmonton Jr. Oilers Blue. The Alberta champions pushed the series to a decisive Game 3, where Kaishu Shin scored 8:33 into overtime to punch Okanagan’s ticket to Peterborough.
Finn McKeirnan, who was terrific a year ago at the TELUS Cup, posting a .935 save percentage to earn Top Goaltender honours, was a standout in the Rockets goal once again—he had a 2.47 goals-against average while going 12-4 in the regular season, was 3-0 in the BCEHL playoffs and posted a 33-save shutout in the regional opener to help Okanagan get back to the national championship.
There’s a fun family connection on Okanagan—15-year-old Brayden Jugnauth joined his brother, Logan, in the lineup this year, meaning all four Jugnauth brothers (along with older siblings Colton and Tyson) have played for the Rockets. Brayden—who is likely go very early in the 2026 WHL Prospects Draft—led the team during the regular season with 58 points (32-26—58) in 34 games—good for second in the BCEHL—and added 21 points (11-10—21) in nine playoff games.
We have to go back 44 years since the Burnaby Winter Club claimed B.C.’s lone national title in 1982. The Rockets’ bronze in 2014 is the only medal won by a West Coast team since then.
HOW THEY GOT TO PETERBOROUGH
British Columbia Elite Hockey League Quarterfinal: defeated Fraser Valley Thunderbirds 2-0 (2-1, 4-2) Semifinal: defeated Cariboo Cougars 2-0 (4-2, 3-2) Final: defeated Thompson Blazers 2-0 (10-3, 7-0)
Pacific Regional Final: defeated Edmonton Jr. Oilers Blue 2-1 (3-0, 2-3, 3-2 OT)
REGULAR SEASON
Record (W-L-OTL): 26-7-1 (2nd in BCEHL) Goals for: 151 (2nd in BCEHL) Goals against: 96 (T-1st in BCEHL) Longest winning streak: 12 (Oct. 4-Nov. 16) Top 3 scorers: - Brayden Jugnauth – 32G 26A 58P (2nd in BCEHL) - Von Lakovic – 17G 25A 42P (8th in BCEHL) - Brayden Westman – 9G 29A 38P (13th in BCEHL)
PLAYOFFS
Record: 8-1 Goals for: 38 Goals against: 15
Top 3 scorers: - Brayden Jugnauth – 11G 10A 21P - Von Lakovic – 11G 8A 19P - Kaishu Shin – 3G 13A 16P
NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP HISTORY
2014 – Okanagan Rockets | bronze medal | 2-2-3 | 28GF 22GA 2025 – Okanagan Rockets | 5th place | 1-4 | 11GF 19GA
WHL DRAFTED PLAYERS
Hudson Getzlaf – Vancouver Giants 2023 (5th round, 108th overall) Von Lakovic – Kelowna Rockets 2024 (6th round, 113th overall) Logan Jugnauth – Prince George Cougars 2023 (6th round, 125th overall) Hayden Laing – Tri-City Americans 2023 (9th round, 191st overall)