The Kelowna Rockets were without Lassi Thomson down the stretch and it showed.
The team struggled during his absence, falling out of a playoff spot and eventually losing a one-game playoff tiebreaker to the Kamloops Blazers.
His importance to the team became obvious and, on Wednesday, that importance was recognized with a major WHL award.
Thomson was named Western Conference Rookie of the Year in the WHL and was also named to the Western Conference Second All-Star team.
In 63 total games this season, he lead the Rockets defence core in scoring with 17 goals and 24 assists for 41 points.
That put him fifth overall on the league’s rookie scoring list for both forwards and defencemen.
Thomson, who was drafted 53rd overall in the 2018 CHL import draft, is expected to be taken in the 2019 NHL entry draft.
The 18-year-old Finn is projected to be a late first or early second-round pick.
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