Kelowna Rockets sign forward from Minnesota

Cole Braunshausen scored 67 points in 28 games last season playing for a Minnesota high school.

Kelowna Rockets sign forward from Minnesota Published 12:53 pm Tuesday, July 14, 2026 The Kelowna Rockets have signed forward Cole Braunshausen to a WHL Scholarship and Development agreement. The 18-year-old right-shot winger is from Lake Elmo, Minnesota, and recently served as captain of St. Thomas Academy for the 2025-26 season, where he registered 67 points across 28 games, including 30 goals.

His goal-per-game performance made him a standout player in Minnesota high school hockey en-route to becoming a nominee for the Mr. Hockey Award. The Rockets consider Braunshausen to be a dynamic, high-compete player whose game is built off of his speed and hockey instincts. According to the Rockets, Braunshausen uses his quickness and agility to skate through traffic and find open ice, while also possessing fast hands and accurate passing that allow him to set up his teammates consistently.

At just five-foot-nine and 176 pounds, Braunshausen may not be the biggest player in the Western Hockey League, but his physical engagement and compete level stand out enough to make him an intriguing signing for the Rockets. ”Cole is the type of player who makes your team better in all three zones,” said president and general manager Bruce Hamilton. “He’s quick, he’s smart, and he competes hard every shift.

We’re excited to have him in Kelowna.”