Kelowna Rockets bolster offence ahead of today’s WHL trade deadline

The Kelowna Rockets are beefing up their offence ahead of the WHL trade deadline today, Jan. 8.

Vancouver Giants winger Ty Halaburda is heading to the Okanagan in a trade for defenceman Will Sharpe.

Halaburda was the Giant’s captain and one of the team’s top scorers. The World Junior Championship MVP played with the the Rockets last night and had an assist as Kelowna beat the Tri-City Americans 5-2 at Prospera Place.

It was the latest trade for the Rockets, who are preparing to host this year’s Memorial Cup tournament and will compete regardless of their place in the WHL standings after the playoffs.

The Rockets are currently eighth in the western conference, but the team also boasts three top scorers from the World Juniors including Checzhia’s Victor Cihar, fellow Chezch Tomas Poletin and Canada’s Tij Iginla who resumed skating with the Rockets part way through the season.

The Halaburda trade included second- and fourth-round picks in the 2028 draft, and Kelowna gave up LA Kings prospect Sharpe who will be going to the Giants.

In another trade, the Rockets picked up defenceman Parker Alcos along with a third-round 2026 pick and a seventh-round pick for 2028 in exchange for first- and third- round 2026 draft picks and a second-round pick in 2027.

The Rockets also picked up defenceman Keith McInnis from Red Deer last week, giving up two draft picks and forward Kalder Varga.