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Update: Kelowna Rockets President/General Manager, Bruce Hamilton made a statement regarding reports from a Finnish based scouting service that Lassi Thomson will return to his hometown team in Finland.
“We’re aware of the report that was released today,” said Hamilton. “We were somewhat surprised; however, Lassi has always been under contract to Ilves as they had to release him to play for us this past season. We look forward to the NHL Draft this upcoming June. We are hopeful that whichever NHL team drafts him and his club team Ilves decides that playing for the Rockets is in his best interest."
Original story:
On a day where Bruce Hamilton has seriously bolstered the Kelowna Rockets roster heading into a Memorial Cup season, it could have also taken a huge hit.
Lassi Alanen, a Finnish based scout for Future Considerations Hockey and a writer for other hockey publications, has reported that Rockets defenceman Lassi Thomson will not return to Kelowna next year.
Lassi Thomson, a top 2019 eligible defenceman, will play for Ilves next season. Thomson played with Ilves’ U20 squad before leaving to play for Kelowna Rockets WHL last summer. #2019NHLDraft
— Lassi Alanen (@lassialanen) May 2, 2019
According to Alanen, Thomson will play for Ilves of the Finnish Elite League next season, ending his brief, but successful tenure with the Rockets.
While this report is unconfirmed so far, Alanen isn’t the only one on Twitter saying that the pen has been put to paper between Thomson and Ilves.
After being selected in the 2018 CHL import draft, Thomson had an impressive rookie season in Kelowna, putting up 17 goals and 24 assists in 63 games.
He was named Western Conference Rookie of the Year, but lost out on the league-wide award to Moose Jaw Warriors forward Brayden Tracey.
If the report is true, it would be a big blow to the Rockets, but it will also leave an import roster spot open for Hamilton to work his magic and bring in another talented player for the 2019-20 season.
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