Played on Feb 11, 2026
Game Played in Prospera Place
General Game Notes: This game was closer than the scoreboard appears, as the visiting Wenatchee Wild led after the first period 3-2 and outshot the Kelowna Rockets 21 to 9. The Rockets ran away with it in the third period scoring four times. Shane Smith led the way for the Rockets with three goals and an assist, while Carson Wetsch added four assists. Single goals went to Mazden Leslie, Tij Iginla, Hiroki Gojsic, Vojtek Cijar with a slick penalty shot goal, while Ryan Oothoudt scored his first WHL goal.
Shane Smith (C, L, 6’1″, 202, Kelowna Rockets, 01/14/2005)
Game Rating
B+
Shane Smith is a dependable forward with a versatile skill set that makes him a valuable asset to his team. He excels in various situations, including power plays and penalty killing, where he can use his physicality and passing ability to create scoring chances. Smith’s skating, while not elite, is solid, and he has above-average top-end speed, making him effective in puck battles and on the forecheck. His heavy shot and reliable puck skills also make him a consistent threat on offense.
1 Viewing
Comments: Smith was relentless and played with pace all night, finishing with three goals and an assist – including a slick forehand-to-backhand five-hole on a breakaway and a one-motion, receiving cross-body wrister that beat the goalie cleanly – showcasing his skill scoring touch. He’s a strong skater with good top-end speed and is dangerous off the rush as a true dual threat: he can unload a heavy, accurate shot or create for teammates. He competes physically, consistently engaging on the forecheck, finishing checks, and bringing intensity to board battles. Trusted on special teams, Smith regularly draws the top penalty-kill minutes and significant power-play time on the flank where he can one-time pucks. He logged just over 16 minutes in this game – below his 20+ minute season average – as it was his first contest back after a multi-week injury absence, but the performance suggested he returned in strong form.
Carson Wetsch (RW, R, 6’1″, 201, Kelowna Rockets, 05/04/2006)
Game Rating
B+
Wetsch is a physically gifted forward with a high-energy style of play that makes him a valuable asset to his team. He excels at pressuring the forecheck, winning battles for space in front of the net, and creating chances for himself and teammates. With strong skating, puck-handling ability, and smart decision-making, Wetsch is well-suited to driving the attack or complementing teammates on offense. His defensive skills are also noteworthy, as he backchecks diligently and shows dependable coverage in the zone. While his finishing touch has been inconsistent at times, his overall compete level and leadership make him a reliable player. Wetsch’s most impressive asset may be his ability to wear down opponents with his physical play and board work, making him a predictable presence on the ice. His speed and agility allow him to quickly create problems for defenders, and he consistently impacts play in all areas of the game.
1 Viewing
Comments: Wetsch is a versatile team captain who does the little things right while bringing a gritty, physical edge; he’s a strong, confident skater who is solid on the puck, consistently drives the net and shows willingness to finish and stop at the crease. In this game he demonstrated high hockey IQ and playmaking ability with four assists showing poise and vision. Notably, on one occasion retrieving a misplayed wraparound on the wall in the offensive zone, beating a defender with a toe-drag to get off the wall, to create a quick two-on-one and find his linemate who fired a quick wrister for a goal. Also, showing high end awareness, making a heads-up defensive-zone play to lightly chip the puck to middle support and trigger a rush that led to a breakaway goal. Overall he impacts the game both with hard, responsible play and timely, creative passing.
Vojtech Cihar (LW, L, 6’0″, 187, Kelowna Rockets, 03/29/2007)
Game Rating
B+
Cihar is a well-rounded player with excellent skating ability, showcasing rapid acceleration and agile edges that allow him to maintain possession along the boards. His puck skills are strong, enabling him to distribute effectively as a late-man in power plays and make precise breakout feeds. He operates well in both defensive and offensive situations, reading play well on defense and displaying good instincts offensively. Cihar’s game is characterized by his high hockey IQ, allowing him to make smart decisions quickly. His physicality and pursuit speed make him a force to be reckoned with during fore-checks. However, he occasionally makes errors with passing, highlighting the need for refinement in this aspect of his game. Despite this, Cihar projects as a dependable and versatile forward who can excel on penalty kills and drive transition.
1 Viewing
Comments: Cihar is a smooth, light-on-his-feet skater with explosive top-end speed and quickness, showcased by an end-to-end rush where he was hauled down, resulting in a penalty-shot – scoring on a slick, deceptive move that underlines his offensive upside. Equally reliable defensively, he’s a staple on the top penalty-killing unit, willingly blocks shots, reads play well, and prefers controlled stop-start positioning over circling in his own end; he also finishes physically when called upon. Offensively he’s dangerous in transition and on the attack, can create separation on defenders and possesses a heavy, hard-release, on display on the second power play unit. Projection: a potential high-end, true 200-foot player – though to reach that ceiling he must more consistently translate his skill and speed into sustained offensive involvement.
Josh Toll (D, L, 6’0″, 163, Wenatchee Wild, 01/05/2007, St. Thomas)
Game Rating
B+
1 Viewing
Comments: Toll is a mobile, left-shot defenseman who brings significant offensive value for the Wild, logging 22:30 of ice time in this game and anchoring the top power-play unit; he leads the team with 33 assists for 36 points and is an excellent distributor and passer on the man advantage. A high-end skater with very good mobility, Toll plays with consistent engagement and strong on-ice awareness-he reads the play, pre-scans well, retreats for pucks and quickly initiates transition very effectively. Though not an overly physical defender, he wins puck battles at an effective ~55% clip through smart stick work, steering opponents and finishing on the body to maintain position between his check and the net. Overall, Toll projects as a top-pairing offensive defenseman whose skating, vision and power-play proficiency drive his value.
Boston Tait (D, L, 6’1″, 182, Wenatchee Wild, 04/13/2009)
Game Rating
B+
Tait is a well-rounded defenseman with strong puck skills and poise on the ice. He excels as a first passer, often making intelligent plays under pressure and recovering quickly to retrieve the puck. This efficiency allows him to consistently contribute in five-on-five situations, providing steady minutes.
1 Viewing
Comments: Tait (2009 birth, 6’1′, L) is a dependable, high-usage defenceman who led his team in ice time in this game (~23:00) and is trusted on both the power play and penalty kill. He displays strong puck skills and consistently makes effective outlet passes, showing poise with the puck and rarely panicking under pressure. On the down low defensive zone coverage, he shows good awareness without the puck, and with his size and skating ability is effective on the walls with the hit and pin. On the penalty kill he competes hard, willingly steps in to block shots, and reads plays well. Overall he plays a mature, sound defensive game for his age; his puck-battle success rate is roughly 55%, though it can swing noticeably from game to game.
Aiden Grossklaus (RW, R, 5’11”, 181, Wenatchee Wild, 02/23/2007, Minnesota State)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Grossklaus is a hard-working, high-effort forward who skates well – very good edge work with strong top-end speed that he consistently uses to pressure opponents on the forecheck and drive to loose pucks; he plays a gritty grinding style and posts roughly a 50% success rate in battles this season. In the game he played 14 minutes (slightly under his 16-minute season average) and remains a reliable penalty killer while taking limited power-play minutes despite clearly being a scoring option (third on the club with 11 goals, 4th in scoring in 47 games). His value is driven by pace, high compete level, and two-way reliability, though increasing his consistency in puck battles and expanding his special-teams role could raise his overall impact.
Brandon Osborne (D, L, 6’2″, 189, Wenatchee Wild, 04/13/2006)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Osborne is a quality defenseman who can log reliable minutes (21+ this game) in all situations – five-on-five, the power play and the penalty kill – thanks to his very good skating and mobility; he uses his speed and edgework to move his team out of trouble, shows confident puck-handling and strong situational awareness, and consistently advances play with hard, flat passes. While not overly physical but is good on the walls, is difficult to knock off the puck, competes well along the boards and in front of the net, and boasts nearly a 55%+ battle-win rate this season.
Sam Elliott (C, L, 6’2″, 177, Wenatchee Wild, 03/14/2005, Merrimack)
Game Rating
B
Sam Elliott is a solid player who excels in his role as a reliable two-way center. He demonstrates good skating abilities, making him effective on both offense and defense. His speed and puck skills are notable assets in the attack, allowing him to create threats against the opponent’s defense. On special teams, he is trusted and deployed on key units, showcasing his value in high-pressure situations. However, Elliott struggled on the boards in this particular game, with a lower battle success rate compared to his overall season mark. This could be attributed to an off night, but it’s worth noting that physical battles are not a hallmark of his skill set. Despite this, he still has the ability to excel as a two-way center at the university level.
1 Viewing
Comments: Elliot plays a sound reliable two way game for the Wild, not overly flashy in any one area just quality. Both his skating and puck skills are very good allowing him to contribute top six minutes (16+ in this game). He is solid on the down low defensive zone coverage using both stick and body position while on the power play he provides very aware net-front presence where he rotates off the goal line and, quickly jumps loose pucks. His faceoff numbers were not good in this game but stand at a reasonable 50% on the season.
Caelan Joudrey (C, R, 6’4″, 181, Wenatchee Wild, 01/17/2008, Quinnipiac)
Game Rating
B
Caelan Joudrey showcases a well-rounded skill set for a center of his size, demonstrating impressive skating ability and puck skills that enable him to thrive in tight spaces. He competes hard on the boards and in the dirty areas, providing a reliable two-way presence, and is capable of acting as both a playmaker and a net-front presence. His awareness and instincts allow him to position himself effectively, making him a solid contributor in various situations. Joudrey’s combination of size, agility, and hockey IQ suggests a high ceiling for this young player.
1 Viewing
Comments: Joudrey is a 6’4′ right-shot center who thrives in tight areas – a reliable, physical presence in the defensive and offensive zones where his down-low coverage and wall battles stand out; he’s diligent on one-on-one plays and hard to move from the net-front, making him a valuable puck-retriever and a strong net-front option on the power play where he consistently attacks off the goal line wanting to get to the netfront. While a competent skater and shows some quickness in tight spaces, he doesn’t typically drive play through the neutral zone and would benefit from developing more overall top end to create separation. In this outing he logged ~16 minutes (slightly above his season average), and his main area for improvement is faceoffs, where he sits under 50% for the season.
Rui Han (C, L, 6’0″, 178, Wenatchee Wild, 02/23/2007, Yale)
Game Rating
B
1 Viewing
Comments: Han provides quality minutes for the Wild, skating just over 17 minutes (second-most among the forward group) and serving on the second power-play unit. He stands out for his excellent top-end speed, strong edge work and quickness, which make him very shifty in tight areas and effective at creating time and space; he’s a reliable playmaker that can protect, roll off sees the ice and can make plays. He willingly attacks the walls and pursues on puck races, goes to the front of the net while using his stick smartly to gain angles and finish plays on the body even though he’s not an overly physical presence. A clear area for improvement is his puck-battle success rate, where he currently sits below 50%…of which technical improvement is key as he has the key intangible, a willingness to dig in.
Photo credit: Dan Hickling/Hickling Images