The Kelowna Rockets are back from their Christmas break and the future of one of their graduating players recently became clearer.
Michael Cicek is in his last season with the Rockets and the team announced on Friday that he has committed to play for the Michigan Tech University Huskies next season.
The 20-year-old has 11 goals and 15 assists in 29 games this season.
Cicek was acquired by the Rockets in a trade with the Spokane Chiefs in May 2023 and he has appeared in 160 career games.
The forward has 82 points in his WHL career, not including two goals and five assists in 11 playoff games with the Rockets last season.
Cicek’s commitment to Michigan Tech University is part of a new era of major junior hockey in Canada. Before this past November, WHL players were deemed ineligible to play in the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA). The NCAA then changed its eligibility rules and numerous major junior players have since announced their commitments to post-secondary institutions in the US.
Before the rule change, graduated WHL skaters looking to play hockey while receiving an education would usually stay in Canada and play for a school in U Sports.
The Rockets recently signed Gabriel Guilbault, who was drafted by the team in 2022 but played in the BCHL since he is committed to playing at Quinnipiac University in the 2026-27 season.
The Kelowna Rockets are at home on Saturday facing the Kamloops Blazers before heading on the road to play the Vancouver Giants on Sunday.
