When defenseman Peyton Kettles went down with a long-term injury, it was clear the Kelowna Rockets were going to make another move or two to improve the blue line.
One of those dominoes fell today as GM Bruce Hamilton pulled the trigger on a trade with the Red Deer Rebels.
The deal sees the Rockets acquire 19-year-old defenseman Keith McInnis in exchange for 17-year-old forward Kalder Varga, a third-round pick in 2028 and a sixth-round pick in 2026.
Photo Credit: Contributed
“This is a move that adds an important dimension to our group,” Hamilton explained. “Keith is a mobile, confident defenseman who can play both the left and right side on defense while creating offence and helping us transition the puck.”
Coming in at 6’1” and 196 lbs, McInnis has recorded six goals and 20 points in 34 games this season with his hometown Rebels.
It’s his first year in the WHL after spending time with the BCHL’s Brooks Bandits, winning a championship with the club last season, and USHL’s Waterloo Black Hawks.
Photo Credit: ContributedKeith McInnis
While Varga is a good young player, his numbers have seen a dip in his second full WHL season and he’s committed to the University of Denver for the fall.
“Kalder is a young player with lots of upside who has worked hard for our organization,” noted Hamilton. “We thank him for his contributions and wish him nothing but success with the Rebels.”
This wasn’t the only Rockets transaction of the day, as the club also signed 2024 US priority draft selection Drew Larioza to a WHL contract.
Photo Credit: Contributed
The 16-year-old centre from San Jose, California, who holds dual US-Canada citizenship, has eight goals and 21 points in 21 games this season with Culver Military Academy 16U AAA.
Hamilton said he’s a player that the organization has been “very impressed with since draft day.”
Larioza was called up by the Rockets on Thursday and is expected to make his WHL debut tonight as Kelowna hosts the Kamloops Blazers tonight in the front half of a home-and-home weekend series.
