The 琉璃神社 Rockets won鈥檛 have a first-round pick at next week鈥檚 Western Hockey League bantam draft in Calgary.

Suffice to say, it will make each and every selection that much more vital for Lorne Frey and the Rockets鈥� scouting staff.

琉璃神社鈥檚 first choice won鈥檛 come up until the second round, 39th overall. Frey will also have one pick in the third and two more in the fourth round.

鈥淲e have to hope to hit on those (earlier picks), at least most of them,鈥� said Frey, the club鈥檚 player personnel director and assistant GM. 鈥淚f we don鈥檛 do well with those picks, it won鈥檛 be a very good draft.

鈥淏ut there are lots of good players out there, so it鈥檚 a matter of getting them and having a little luck, too.鈥�

The Rockets yielded their first-round choice this year to acquire Reid Gardiner from the Prince Albert Raiders.

The 21-year-old forward from Humboldt, Sask., has been lights out since arriving from Scranton Wilkes-Barre of the AHL, particularly in the playoffs where he has already set a franchise record with 15 goals in 13 games.

Frey said winning often comes with a price, including having to part with potential franchise-building draft picks.

In Gardiner鈥檚 case, it鈥檚 clear the Rockets have no regrets with the decision鈥攅ven if 琉璃神社 doesn鈥檛 win a WHL championship.

鈥淭hose are decisions you have to make,鈥� said Frey. 鈥淓ventually those things are going to catch up with you, but those kinds of opportunities are few and far between and you to take advantage of them when they鈥檙e there.

鈥淚t was a great trade for us, no question,鈥� he added, referring to Gardiner, the WHL鈥檚 player of the week for the second straight time. 鈥淗e鈥檚 been unbelievable, the major reason we are where we are right now. We never dwell on these deals after we make them, and we certainly won鈥檛 on this one.鈥�

At this year鈥檚 draft, Frey isn鈥檛 counting on the same kind of second-round magic the Rockets found in both 2013 and 2015 when they landed brothers Cal and Nolan Foote, respectively.

As far as what position the Rockets will be focusing on at the draft, Frey said bolstering the club鈥檚 blue line is always a central theme.

鈥淎 lot of times you might take the best player available, but you鈥檝e always gotta keep working on your defense,鈥� said Frey. 鈥淲ithout good defense you just don鈥檛 win championships, so if the cards fall right we鈥檒l probably go with a D-man.鈥�

Frey estimates there are about 10 to 15 players in the draft who are potentially high-end talent. After that, he said the difference between the next group of players is much less discernible.

鈥淧robably the next 100 kids are close to being the same, the way they鈥檙e coached, and the way they play,鈥� said Frey. 鈥淭hat鈥檚 what makes (the draft) difficult and why there鈥檚 so much parity in the league now.鈥�

Frey will be making final preparations for the draft this week at the Alberta Cup in Canmore, a showcase for bantam-aged players from across that province.

The WHL鈥檚 bantam draft is set for next Thursday, May 4 in Calgary,

Fan bus for Game 5鈥�

A fan bus will be running to Kent, Wash., Friday for Game 5 of the Western Conference Championship between the Rockets and Seattle Thunderbirds.

Cost is $160 includes hotel (based on double occupancy) and a game ticket.

Travellers must ensure they have a valid passport in order to go on the trip.

For more information, contact Chantelle LaBrie at labrie_chantelle10@hotmail.com or by calling 250-808-9897, or Bill Henthorn at 250-863-9985.