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Golden Rockets

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Golden Rockets
CityGolden, British Columbia
LeagueKootenay International Junior Hockey League
ConferenceKootenay
DivisionEddie Mountain
Founded1991 (1991)–92
Home arenaGolden Arena
ColoursRed, White and Black
     
PresidentCanada Lucille Hayward
General managerCanada Jared Houseman
Head coachCanada Jared Houseman
CaptainVacant
Websitegoldenrockets.com
Franchise history
1991–2005Golden Rockets
2005–2006Golden Xtreme
2006–2008Golden Jets
2008–presentGolden Rockets

The Golden Rockets are a Junior 'A' ice hockey team based in Golden, British Columbia, Canada. They are members of the Eddie Mountain Division of the Kootenay Conference of the Kootenay International Junior Hockey League (KIJHL). The Rockets play their home games at Golden Arena, nicknamed the "Plywood Palace". Lucille Hayward is the team's President, Jared Houseman is the General Manager and Coach.[when?][citation needed]

The Rockets joined the league in 1991 as an expansion team. In its KIJHL history, the team has won one division playoff title as a member of the Eddie Mountain Division from 1996–2013.

History

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First Rockets era

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The Golden Rockets joined the KIJHL in 1991 as an expansion franchise, and finished their debut season with a record of 14–23–1, third in the East Division. They struggled greatly again the following season, with a record of 12–30–0, but finished second in their division due to the three-team division, and the struggles of the Elk Valley Raiders. The following seasons, the Rockets gradually dropped further in the standings as the East Division expanded, finishing third in 1993–94, fourth in 1994–95, and fifth in 1995–96. The following season, the Rockets improved greatly, finishing second in the newly renamed Eddie Mountain Division, with a record of 22–18–1, behind only the Columbia Valley Rockies. The following season, the Rockets dropped to third, with a record of 26-24-0, behind Columbia Valley and the Revelstoke Grizzlies. In 1998–99, the Rockets would finish last in the Eddie Mountain Division, and third last in the league, ahead of only the Spokane Braves and Grand Forks Border Bruins overall. Their form dropped further in 1999–00, finishing with a record of 9–35–2, last in the Eddie Mountain Division. The following year the Rockets struggled again, missing the playoffs for a third consecutive year. In 2001–02, however, the Rockets qualified for the playoffs due to the fact that every team in the Eddie Mountain Division made the playoffs that season, and lost 4–0 to the Rockies in the first round. They struggled again the following season, finishing dead last, and lost 4–3 to Columbia Valley in the first round of the playoffs. They did not qualify for the playoffs for the next two seasons, with a combined record of 25–70–3–2 over that time. For the 2005-06 season, the Rockets changed their name to the Golden Xtreme.

Xtreme, Jets, and Rockets

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The newly renamed Golden Xtreme qualified ended a two-year playoff drought in 2005–06, but fell in the first round to the Fernie Ghostriders, 4–3. The following year, the team was bought by a group headed by National Hockey League legend Bobby Hull and renamed the Golden Jets in honour of Hull's nickname. They missed the playoffs, however, and in 2007-08 the team was re-bought by a community organization and the name reverted to the original Rockets. The team would finish with a record of 13–36–3, missing the playoffs again. In 2008–09, the team would improve to third in the Eddie Mountain Division, finishing with a record of 30–16–6, but lost to Fernie again in the first round. The following season was similar, with the Rockets finishing fourth in their division, before losing to the Ghostriders again. In 2010–11, the Rockets would finish third in their division, before losing to the Creston Valley Thunder Cats in the first round. In this season, Rockets player Joshua MacDonald recorded 78 points in 47 games, a team record still standing. In 2011-12, the Rockets would again lose in the first round, to Fernie for the third time in four years. However, in 2012–13, the Rockets would reach the Conference final, defeating the Kimberley Dynamiters and Fernie Ghostriders en route, before losing to the Castlegar Rebels. However, they failed outright to make the playoffs in 2013–14, winning only 15 games. They returned to the playoffs the following year, but lost handily in the first round to Fernie again. In 2015–16, the Golden Rockets recorded their worst season on record, finishing with a record of 5–43–1–3, failing again to make the playoffs.

After winning a combined 13 games between 2015-2018, the Rockets made a return to the playoffs in 2018-19, where they would face the Kimberley Dynamiters in the first round. The reigning champion Dynamiters would eliminate the Rockets in the playoffs, advancing to the KIJHL Finals before finally falling to the Revelstoke Grizzlies. Despite the disappointing end, the 2018-19 season was one of the team's most successful seasons in the past decade, and the 38-point turnaround was the biggest year-over-year improvement in the KIJHL that season.

Season-by-season record

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Note: GP = Games played, W = Wins, L = Losses, T = Ties, OTL = Overtime Losses, Pts = Points, GF = Goals for, GA = Goals against

Records as of February 17, 2024.[1][2]

Season GP W L T OTL Pts GF GA Finish Playoffs
1991-92 38 14 23 1 29 223 296 3rd, East
1992-93 42 12 30 0 24 191 277 2nd, East
1993-94 40 22 18 0 44 229 218 3rd, East Lost in Division Semifinals, 3-4 (Rockies)
1994-95 44 15 26 3 33 189 234 4th, East
1995-96 42 10 32 0 20 178 297 5th, East
1996-97 41 22 18 1 45 215 183 2nd, Eddie Mountain
1997-98 50 26 24 0 52 247 250 3rd, Eddie Mountain
1998-99 52 17 34 1 35 154 228 5th, Eddie Mountain
1999-00 46 9 35 2 20 156 223 5th, Eddie Mountain
2000-01 54 14 37 0 3 31 172 298 5th, Eddie Mountain Did not qualify
2001-02 50 10 32 5 3 28 148 248 4th, Eddie Mountain Lost in Division Semifinals, 0-4 (Rockies)
2002-03 50 13 33 3 1 30 144 231 4th, Eddie Mountain Lost in Division Semifinals, 3-4 (Rockies)
2003-04 50 10 38 1 1 22 162 286 4th, Eddie Mountain Did not qualify
2004-05 50 15 32 2 1 33 157 210 5th, Eddie Mountain Did not qualify
2005–06 50 24 22 3 1 52 173 189 4th, Eddie Mountain Lost in Division Semifinals, 3-4 (Ghostriders)
2006–07 52 13 36 3 29 143 257 5th, Eddie Mountain Did not qualify
2007–08 52 13 36 3 29 128 254 4th, Eddie Mountain: East Did not qualify
2008–09 52 30 16 6 66 166 163 3rd, Eddie Mountain Lost in Division Semifinals, 1-4 (Ghostriders)
2009–10 50 28 22 0 0 56 152 161 4th, Eddie Mountain Lost in Division Semifinals, 0–4 (Ghostriders)
2010-11 50 22 26 0 2 46 221 233 3rd, Eddie Mountain Lost in Division Semifinals, 2-4 (Thunder Cats)
2011–12 52 21 25 1 5 48 176 186 4th, Eddie Mountain Lost in Division Semifinals, 0-4 (Ghostriders)
2012–13 52 31 14 1 6 69 204 176 2nd, Eddie Mountain Lost in Conference Finals, 0-4 (Rebels)
2013–14 52 15 32 1 4 35 150 218 5th, Eddie Mountain Did not qualify
2014–15 52 23 24 0 5 51 173 205 4th, Eddie Mountain Lost Division Semifinals, 1-4 (Ghostriders)
2015–16 52 5 43 1 3 14 106 269 5th, Eddie Mountain Did not qualify
2016–17 47 5 37 1 4 15 75 208 5 of 5, Eddie Mountain
20 of 20 KIJHL
Did not qualify
2017–18 47 3 40 1 3 10 85 269 5 of 5, Eddie Mountain
20 of 20 KIJHL
Did not qualify
2018–19 49 22 23 2 2 48 152 175 4 of 5, Eddie Mountain
10 of 20 KIJHL
Lost Division Semifinals, 0-4 (Dynamiters)
2019–20 49 20 26 2 1 43 173 186 5th of 5, Eddie Mountain
10 of 20 KIJHL
Did not qualify
2020–21 2 0 2 0 0 6 16 6 Remaining season cancelled due to COVID-19
2021–22 42 13 26 0 3 26 109 169 4th of 4, Eddie Mountain
16th of 19 KIJHL
Lost Division Semifinals, 0-4 (Dynamiters)
2022-23 44 25 16 - 3 53 175 168 3rd, Eddie Mountain Lost Division Semifinals, 1-4 (Dynamiters)
2023–24 44 11 32 1 0 23 133 247 5th of 5, Eddie Mountain
20th of 20 KIJHL
Did not qualify
Golden Rockets playing in 2010

Playoffs

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Records as of February 17, 2024.[3][4][5]

Golden Xtreme Logo
Season 1st Round 2nd Round 3rd Round Finals
2000–01 Did not qualify
2001–02 L, 0-4, Columbia Valley
2002–03 L, 3-4, Columbia Valley
2003–04 Did not qualify
2004–05 Did not qualify
2005–06 L, 3-4, Fernie
2006–07 Did not qualify
2007–08 Did not qualify
2008–09 L, 1-4, Fernie
2009–10 L, 0-4, Fernie
2010-11 L, 2-4, Creston Valley
2011-12 L, 0-4, Fernie
2012-13 W, 4-0, Kimberley W, 4-2, Fernie L, 0-4, Castlegar
2013–14 Did not qualify
2014-15 L, 1-4, Fernie
2015–16 Did not qualify
2016–17 Did not qualify
2017–18 Did not qualify
2018-19 L, 0-4, Kimberley
2019-20 Did not qualify
2020-21 Playoffs cancelled due to coronavirus pandemic
2021-22 L, 0-4, Kimberley
2022-23 L, 1-4, Kimberley
2023-24 Did not qualify

Alumni

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» Paul Armstrong, Prince George Cougars, WHL » Zachary Baba, Nipiwan MJHL » Hans Benson, Nipiwan, MJHL » Trevor Bose, Lebret Eagles, SJHL » Trent Brandvold, Quesnel Millionaires, BCJHL » Chad Cammock, Tri-City Americans, WHL » Darcie Cassie, Senior AAA » Travis Cech, Humboldt Bruins, SJHL » Rohn Christenson, Kimberley Dynamiters, RMJHL » Brandon Cox, Langley BCJHL » Jeremy Chadsey, Quesnel, BCJHL » Lee Dionne, Prince George Spruce Kings RMJHL » Jora Dhami, Douglas College, BCIT » Brad Essex, Merritt Centennials, BCJHL, Peoria ECHL » Mike Fischl, Cranbrook Colts, Mount Royal College, ACAC » Wade Fournier, Williams Lake Mustangs, RMJHL, Louisiana East Coast League » Ryan Ferguson, Kimberley Dynamiters, RMJHL » Alex Greenlay, Williams Lake BCJHL, Trail Smoke Eaters BCJHL » Mike Gratton, Andover, Massachusetts, AHA » Ryan Gillen, Surrey Eagles BCJHL, Prince George Cougars WHL » Jeff Hart, University of Alaska, NCAA » Trevor Hawrys, Kimberly Dynamiters, RMJHL, SAIT » Travis Herlein, Selkirk College, BCIT » Jamie Holden, Merritt Centennials, BCJHL » Darren Ibbottson, Cranbrook Colts RMJHL » Jesse Kallechy, Edmonton Oil Barons, AJHL » Brad Kennedy, Chicago Wolves, ECHL » Brant Kersey, Estevan Bruins, SJHL » Kevin Kotyluk, Nanaimo Clippers BCJHL, Univ of Massachusetts, NCAA » Pierre Landry, Bow Valley, AJHL » Kevin Lapp, Creston RMJHL, Kelowna Rockets, WHL » Mike Lalonde, Prince George Cougars BCJHL, Michigan State University, NCAA » Pat Martel, Senor A New Brunswick » Jarrett Moon, Cranbrook Colts RMJHL » Marshal Macklin, Langley Chiefs BCJHL » Joshua MacDonald, Williams Lake BCJHL » Chris Morseth, Creston Thunder RMJHL » Ryan Minnabarriet, Vernon Vipers, BCJHL » Tyler Moore, Brockville Braves, CJHL » Jesse McLean, Prince George Cougars, WHL » Nic Noseworthy, Dryden Ice Dogs, SIJHL » Adam Nanson, Kimberley Dynamiters, RMJHL » Brian Ouellet, Kimberley Dynamiters, RMJHL » Spencer Pommells, St Albert Steel, AJHL » Chris Pont, University of Alaska, NCAA, Fresno Falcons ECHL » Brent Pockett, Merritt Centennials BCJHL, Quesnel Millionaires BCJHL » Jason Piepmann, Kimberley RMJHL, Bellingham Ice Hawks BCJHL, Mount Royal College, ACAC » Andy Pufal, DEL » Ryan Philpotts, Quesnel Millionaires RMJHL » Craig Roessell, Mount Royal College, ACAC » Matt Ringheim, Estevan Bruins, SJHL » Caleb Roy, Vernon Vipers BCJHL » Greg Saby, Boise Idaho Steelheads, WCL » Darryl Sanford, Williams Lake Mustangs RMJHL, ECHL » Rob Sandrock, Seattle Thunderbirds, WHL » Ryan Schnitzler, DEL » Craig Tressierra, Quesnel Millionaires, BCJHL » Charlie Thermainus, Halifax, MHL » Jade Triebwasser, Canadian Forces St Jean RMC Quebec Drew Whyte,La Ronge Ice Wolves SJHL, Briercrest Clippers ACAC » Tanner Watt, Dryden Ice Dogs, SIJHL » Spencer Wong, Selkirk College, BCIT [6]

References

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  1. ^ KIJHL.ca, Regular season standings 2013–2014. Archived 2013-01-02 at the Wayback Machine
  2. ^ "KIJHL.ca – KIJHL Final Standings". Archived from the original on 2012-09-18. Retrieved 2012-03-23.
  3. ^ KIJHL.ca, Playoff Bracket 2013–2014. Archived May 5, 2012, at the Wayback Machine
  4. ^ "KIJHL.ca – Playoff Records". Archived from the original on 2012-09-16. Retrieved 2012-03-24.
  5. ^ KIJHL.ca, Past KIJHL League Champions. Archived 2013-02-09 at the Wayback Machine
  6. ^ "Archived copy" (PDF). Archived from the original (PDF) on 2018-06-21. Retrieved 2018-06-21.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
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