What a difference a year makes.
Twelve months after their best performance ever at the Mac’s midget hockey tournament, the Okanagan Rockets came up winless at the annual international showcase in Calgary.
The young and largely inexperienced Rockets closed out the 2014-15 tournament on Tuesday afternoon with a 5-2 loss to the Grande Prairie Storm to finish at 0-4-0.
Last year, the Rockets had their best finish ever at Mac’s, reaching the semifinals before losing to the eventual champions, Team Finland.
Captain Mark Krabben is the only returning player on the defending BCMML’s champs 20-man roster.
The Okanagan squad opened the tournament with a 5-2 loss to the Calgary Buffaloes on Boxing Day, followed by a 6-3 loss to the Ontario (CA) Avalanche on Saturday.
On Monday, in their best effort of the week, the Rockets were shutout 2-0 by the Regina Pat Canadians.
Next week, the Rockets will be back to defend their title at the Kelowna Elite International Midget Tournament at Rutland and Memorial Arenas.
Play begins Wednesday, Jan. 7 with the Rockets taking on South Delta Academy.
