Even general manager Bruce Hamilton admits he didn㽶Ƶֱt see it coming.
Thanks to a breakout 87-point season, Kelowna Rockets㽶Ƶֱ forward Kole Lind has been named to the WHL㽶Ƶֱs Western Conference second all-star team.
, who was also named the Rockets㽶Ƶֱ most improved player in 2016-17, boosted his point production by 46 points over last season.
㽶ƵֱI think I㽶Ƶֱd be lying if we thought Kole would carry on the way he did all season,㽶Ƶֱ said Hamilton, the Rockets president and GM. 㽶ƵֱI think that as a young guy, he㽶Ƶֱs accomplished a lot this year.
㽶ƵֱHe㽶Ƶֱs been very good for us, a real nice surprise.㽶Ƶֱ
The Shaunavon, Sask. native, in his second full season with the Rockets, had 30 goals and 57 assists for a team-high 87 points.
㽶ƵֱIt㽶Ƶֱs pretty cool to get a league award, nice to be recognized,㽶Ƶֱ Lind said. 㽶ƵֱI think this is as much a team award, one that comes because of my coaches and teammates helping me out. The success comes from them.㽶Ƶֱ
Lind㽶Ƶֱs exploits on the ice this season have also piqued the interest of pro scouts.
The 6-foot-1, 175-pound forward was listed 21st in Central Scouting㽶Ƶֱs latest rankings of North American skaters, making him a potential late first round or early second round choice in this summer㽶Ƶֱs NHL entry draft.
Hamilton executive nominee㽶Ƶֱ
Rockets president and general manager Bruce Hamilton is the Western Conference nominee for the WHL㽶Ƶֱs executive of the year award.
The team㽶Ƶֱs only GM dating back to the birth of the franchise in 1992 in Tacoma, Hamilton㽶Ƶֱs club finished strong in the 2016-17 regular season with nine wins in its last 10 games.
The Rockets (45-22-5-0) ended up just a point back of the Prince George Cougars for top spot in the B.C. Division.
Hamilton is also the chairman of the WHL㽶Ƶֱs board of directors. He is the longest serving chairman in league history, having filled the role from 1998 to 2004, and again from 2008 to the present.
The Eastern Conference nominee for the executive of the year award is Regina Pats㽶Ƶֱ GM John Paddock.
Kole Lind- Second Team All-Star & Bruce Hamilton-Western Conference Executive of the year. Story:
㽶Ƶֱ Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets)