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cly · 07-19-2023, 09:41 PM

Defenseman Rocky Orwell (5th OA, Kelowna Knights) was kind enough to write up biweekly a draft diary detailing his experiences leading up to the SHL draft. Orwell ended the season with 30 pts (25G, 5A).

First Entry

I’ve been having a really fun time playing here in Kelowna. The scenery and the weather is so nice, and the people in town are nice and my new teammates have treated me with so much kindness. I’ve really gotten to know Crystal McLeod a lot and I’ve learned a lot from her, maybe a little too much in the fighting department.

Also I’ve been hoping to make it onto the USA World Juniors team, I think the competition happens in July, so I’ve got some weeks to work on it (it’s early June right now). I would really like to play with Leon Rizzton for the USA. I'm from Nebraska and we’re really patriotic down there, and I’ve been a fan of USA Hockey since I was born so I’d really like to make the team one day. I’m working really hard to play as best as I can to make those chances better. But I’m also working hard for Kelowna too since I really think we can win a cup even though we’ve been struggling so far. I think we’ll pick up the pace, at least I hope so!

It’s currently pride month and I’ve really appreciated how much the league has been doing for pride month. This sport isn’t always that accepting so I really think it’s amazing that there is so much support for the community across the J and the SHL.

Anyway, I’m really excited to continue the season and see where my career takes me, and I want to thank Kelowna for picking me so high, I could’ve never expected it and I’m really thankful.

Second Entry

We didn’t make the playoffs, and I’m obviously a little frustrated but it’s okay because I know even though we had a bad season this year we’ll be all good soon because we work hard, and we’re going to keep working hard as much as we can.

Obviously, I’m excited to keep practicing and training for the next season and I think if we keep the passion that we have then we’ll be all set. Arty also was kind enough to give me some extra cash which is going to be a lifesaver for my savings account. I also have been talking with my friends Leon Rizzton and Ana Parast a lot. We’re all hoping to go to the same team or at least be near to each other. I’m pretty nearby Leon right now, the flight is only an hour and obviously we see each other when we play against each other, but I see Ana less because he plays in Regina.

I think my favorite cities that I’ve visited to play in are Anchorage and Las Vegas. It’s really fascinating how different the weather can be so different in two places at the same time. In Anchorage it was chilly and in Vegas it was really hot in the same week. The mountains in Anchorage are so beautiful too! Vegas was super fun. I’m not old enough to walk into a casino yet but I walked down the strip and got some food.

For now, my plan is to go back home for 2 or 3 weeks to visit my family back in Omaha. Then I’m coming back to Kelowna to train and assimilate more with the team and the city. I want to train hard this summer so I can maybe make the World Juniors, but I’m scared I might overwork myself and be too tired. However I might not even get picked but I still want to try my best, I don’t know if that makes sense. I’ve also been studying French so I can talk to more people in Canada. Pretty much everyone in Kelowna speaks English but I still want to learn French just in case.

Signing off for now!

Third Entry

Hi from Nebraska! Today I’m going to try barbecuing on my own for the first time. The weather here is perfect to grill and my dad is here to help me out and make sure I don’t burn down the backyard so I think doing this will be really fun.

I called my grandparents today and they said they were really proud of how I’ve played even though we didn’t make the playoffs. I didn’t even know they watched me play!

I’m flying back to Kelowna tomorrow. I’ve been watching the SMJHL playoffs and I really think Maine is going to win, and even though I’m super sad I missed out I definitely am very happy for the people who made it! These playoffs have been energetic so far! I don’t even know if I would be ready for them… but I would have tried my best!

I don’t know when teams generally start talking to you about the draft, but I check my phone every day to see if I’ve received any communication. I’m very excited to even be considered by teams, I really hope I get drafted, I don’t care where I go though. I grew up as a Chicago Syndicate fan because it’s the closest team to me, so it would be cool to play there, but if I get drafted somewhere else I’m going to immediately become a fan of that team!

Anyway, I don’t have much else to say right now. I just wanted to update this really fast, thanks for reading it if you’re reading it, I’m going to go back to hanging out with my family!

Fourth Entry

Well, I didn’t get picked for team USA in the World Juniors, but that’s okay, because I can still play for North America, which is super cool because I’m playing for a Canadian team now so it’s even closer to home in a way if that makes any sense? I hope I get to play with Leon Rizzton there, it would be super cool to be d-partners with him because he’s also not playing for Team USA. Also, I’ve talked to a bunch of teams so far, I guess around 8 or 10. I’d be really excited to play for any of them. I’ve had a lot of good conversations and they make me really hopeful to get drafted.

I think this will be my last entry until the draft, so I’m going to reflect a little bit on my rookie season. I got drafted really high so I wanted to show that I was really good and that I deserved that, and I’m kind of underwhelmed by my results so far. I wish I could have scored more goals and made a lot less giveaways, but it was a big adjustment and I just don’t think I could’ve performed as well as I normally do because I moved so far and it’s such a big jump in competition, but I’ve gotten used to it a little bit and I bet that in the next season or two I’ll see a lot of improvement in myself, and I’m definitely going to work super hard to do it.

Well, that’s all from me. Thank you for reading this, and I’m excited for draft day! Go Knights!

(word count: 1228)

***luke*** · 07-19-2023, 09:49 PM

Glad to have drafted you!

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