A familiar face is set to return to the Kelowna Rockets for the team’s 30th anniversary season.
On Wednesday, the Rockets announced the hiring of Josh Gorges as an assistant coach for the 2025-26 season.
“Josh brings a championship pedigree, NHL experience and deep ties to this city and our organization,” said Rockets President and GM Bruce Hamilton.
“He’s lived the Kelowna Rockets standard and understands what it takes to win here. We’re thrilled to bring him back in this new role.”
The Kelowna native was the Rockets captain when the team won its only Memorial Cup in 2004, an experience that will be valuable as the Rockets are set to host the tournament for the first time since then.
In total, Gorges appeared in 306 games for the Rockets, amassing 199 points and a WHL championship in 2003.
The defenceman then went on to play 783 games in the NHL with the San Jose Sharks, Montreal Canadiens and Buffalo Sabres.
Following his retirement in 2018, Gorges joined the West Kelowna Warriors of the BCHL, serving as a director of player development in the 2020-21 season before transitioning to an assistant coach role, a position he has held until now.
Gorges will join head coach Derrick Martin, associate coach Don Hay and assistant coach Brandon McMillan behind the Rockets bench.
McMillan previously won a WHL championship with the Rockets in the 2008-09 season and Don Hay is the all-time winningest coach in the history of the WHL.
The Rockets are set to hold their training camp at the end of the month.
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