Jaxon Kehrig during the 2023/24 season with the Melfort Mustangs (photo courtesy/Broad Leaf Media)

By Ben Tompkins

WHL Contract

Kehrig signs with Kelowna, ready to make impact with Rockets squad

Sep 10, 2024 | 5:18 PM

Jaxon Kehrig has signed a WHL Scholarship and Development Agreement with the Kelowna Rockets.

Kehrig, a Tisdale native and former Trojan, had previously committed to playing for the Melfort Mustangs this season.

However, when the 2022 fourth-round pick of the Rockets got the call, it was a no-brainer to head to Kelowna.

(Graphic courtesy/Kelowna Rockets)

“This summer I felt I put in a lot of work and I felt good coming into the season. I felt more confident than I have in past years and I think that really helped my chances of sticking around here,” Kehrig told northeastNOW.

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“Kelowna is beautiful and a fun place to play. Camp was good and I felt I did really well, and we played a few preseason games already, so I fell like it’s coming together well… The first game was definitely an eye-opener but by the end of the second one I felt that I was getting more and more comfortable for sure.”

Kehrig, a 2007-born forward, spent parts of the last three seasons with the Trojans, including 52 games this past year.

He also got called up to Melfort for 10 games, six of which were in the playoffs, including when the Mustangs won the SJHL Championship.

“It was definitely a bit of a jump, but as you get more and more time it definitely helps. Having a really good group in Melfort made it quite easy to get settled in and I feel the same way here,” added Kehrig.

“Just having the ability to play against guys who were older than me was really important. I got to learn how little time and space you have, knowing that guys are bigger than you sometimes and learning that it’s gonna be a grind.”

In total, Kehrig spent 133 hockey games close to home, between the U15 AA Northeast Wolfpack, Tisdale Trojans, and Melfort Mustangs.

While it will be difficult to leave his northeast home and local support system, the 17-year-old is more than ready to grow up and adventure out on his own.

“It’s definitely tough to leave, I had nothing but great times in both Tisdale and Melfort. It’ll be a big change for sure, but I want to do what’s best for me and I think it’s the right decision… Melfort and Tisdale have been nothing but great for me,” Kehrig concluded.

“There are a lot of guys around my age here in Kelowna, so I think that will definitely help me. I think I’m also up for it because I have spent the last 17 years of my life at home, so I’m just looking forward to getting more and more comfortable, on and off the ice, and hopefully, becoming a big impact player for the Rockets.”

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Ben.Tompkins@pattisonmedia.com

On X @BenTompkins_8