25 Years of Rockets' Captains: Southam Makes the List
by Sam Hill

When we think about leadership, we think of politicians, CEOs, military leaders, and agents of change. It is not often that our minds would associate leadership with a teenage boy, playing the game that he loves.

Doning a “C” on your jersey is one of the most prestigious honours in the game of hockey, and for past and present Kelowna Rockets captains, it is an honour that comes with many important duties. As a team that has seen many successful seasons over the last 25 years, this organization has an impressive reputation to be upheld by the current and future captains.

On January 25th, the team named their 22nd Captain, Rodney Southam. The 19-year-old right winger has proven his abilities and leadership qualities throughout 151 WHL games played with the Kelowna Rockets and his previous team, the Tri-City Americans.

“Rodney is the heart and soul of our team,” said Rockets president/GM Bruce Hamilton. “I’m happy that as an organization we’ve made a decision on the captaincy and I think Rodney will do a wonderful job. I believe this team needs someone in charge from a player’s perspective and Rodney is well-respected by his teammates.”

Southam joins an elite group of players previously named as a Kelowna Rockets Captain and will aim to lead the team in the same way that his predecessors have.

“For an organization like the Kelowna Rockets and the history that they’ve had, it’s quite the honour,” explained Southam of being named captain. “Having Madison Bowey here last year, it was easy to learn from him and he’s a great leader, and it’s a tremendous honour to be named captain of this team.”

In Southam, the Rockets have gained a captain that isn’t afraid of a little confrontation and he plans to carry out his duties diligently. “If something needs to be addressed, I’m pretty vocal on the bench or in the room.”

“I’ve heard stories about guys like Shea Weber, and a lot of past players that have been through here and went on and have done great things, had long careers in the NHL, and those guys were in my shoes not too, too long ago,” added Southam. “That kind of gives me some push and drive to hopefully one day be able to get where those guys are.”

With a Kelowna Rockets captaincy comes a lot of pride and responsibility. Voted in as a captain by their peers, Rockets captains feel an obligation to their teammates. This kind of importance in the role has strengthened players’ leadership skills and helped them to grow on and off the ice.

“Looking back at it now, being named captain of the Rockets meant so much more to me, both as a player and a person, than I anticipated,” expressed former Rockets captain Colton Sissons. “I think that it shaped my maturity on and off the ice, and had a huge impact on my hockey career moving forward.” Named captain of the Milwaukee Admirals, the Nashville Predators’ AHL affiliate team, this season, Colton went on to say, “Leadership was a quality that Nashville had seen in me, and played a role in them drafting me in 2012. Fortunately that leadership has stuck with me, giving myself the opportunity to wear the "C" again for the Admirals this season.”

As a captain of the Kelowna Rockets, these young men have to show up every night and inspire the entire team to put in their best effort. Maturity is an important quality that leaders need to possess in order to lead their team into battle, and as teenagers, it is a quality that Kelowna Rockets captains have had to learn much more quickly than their friends.

“I think that as the captain on the team, you have a bit more responsibility and you have to learn to be respectful and do everything the right way because the coaches are watching and you’re looked upon to set a good example for the rest of the team, so it definitely made me more mature and that helped me moving forward,” said 2010/2011 Rockets captain Tyson Barrie, now playing his fifth pro season with the Colorado Avalanche.

Leadership is not only expected on the ice, but in the community as well. “[It’s] not just practices and games, being one of the hardest workers, but it’s also in stuff away from the rink. [It’s] being involved in the community and kind of showing the guys that are coming up what is expected,” said former Kelowna Rockets captain, turned coach Ryan Cuthbert. “We play hard on the ice, but we give back as much as we can.”

Rockets players are role models in the community, often making appearances at schools, events, and fundraisers. The players, and specifically the captains, are asked to act professionally and uphold the team’s reputation.

“One thing about being the Rockets captain was that you have to give the captain’s speech at the year-end banquet and I was so nervous for that,” Barrie added. “I remember I got the captaincy and I was so happy, but then at the same time I was like - Oh crap, I’ve gotta write this speech now.”

25 Years of Captains

• 2015/16Rodney Southam
• 2013/14 & 2014/15Madison Bowey (Washington Capitals, currently playing for AHL Hershey Bears)
• 2011/12 & 2012/13Colton Sissons (Nashville Predators)
• 2010/11Tyson Barrie (Colorado Avalanche)
• 2009/10Lucas Bloodoff
• 2008/09Colin Long (Asploven HC)
• 2007/08James McEwan
• 2006/07Chris Ray
• 2005/06Tyler Spurgeon (Innsbruck HC)
• 2004/05Brett Palin (Linz EHC)
• 2003/04Josh Gorges (Buffalo Sabres)
• 2001/02 & 2002/03Ryan Cuthbert
• 2000/01Gavin McLeod
• 1999/00Curtis Rich
• 1998/99Ryan Wade
• 1997/98Jason Deleurme
• 1996/97Tyler Prosofosky
• 1995/96Burt Henderson
• 1994/95Dallas Thompson (Tacoma)
• 1993/94Allen Egeland (Tacoma)
• 1992/93Jamie Black (Tacoma)
• 1991/92Dave McMillen (Tacoma)