Immersed in a pro hockey environment growing up in Colorado, Cal Foote and his younger brother Nolan could have easily felt pressured to follow in their father乌鸦传媒檚 footsteps.

Quite the contrary, the 18-year-old defenceman for the Kelowna Rockets said his dad乌鸦传媒�19-year NHL veteran Adam Foote乌鸦传媒攍eft the decision to pursue a career in hockey entirely in his son乌鸦传媒檚 hands.

乌鸦传媒淗e told us we didn乌鸦传媒檛 have to do it, we could make our own decisions without any pressure attached,乌鸦传媒� said Cal Foote. 乌鸦传媒淭here weren乌鸦传媒檛 any expectations and that, I think, made it easier.

乌鸦传媒淗ockey is in our blood, it乌鸦传媒檚 like our family business in a way,乌鸦传媒� he added. 乌鸦传媒淲e all function around hockey, we love the game and our parents have helped us and been very supportive along the way.乌鸦传媒�

Combining bloodlines and natural ability, his father乌鸦传媒檚 tutelage, hard work and pure passion for the game, the elder Foote sibling has developed into one of major junior hockey乌鸦传媒檚 most sought-after prospects.

The 6-foot-4, 210-pound Foote was ranked 12th among North American skaters in Central Scouting乌鸦传媒檚 recent midterm rankings, making him a potential upper first-round pick in this summer乌鸦传媒檚 NHL entry draft.

After being drafted by the Rockets in the second round of the 2013 WHL bantam draft, Foote was faced with a decision乌鸦传媒攔emain in his native U.S. to pursue a college career or head north to play in the Canadian Hockey League.

His dad, who played his major junior in the Ontario Hockey League, offered some guidance but once again left the final word to Cal.

乌鸦传媒�(My dad) had some good words about playing in the CHL and he also gave some good advice about the ups and downs that were going to come with it,乌鸦传媒� said Foote, who has five goals and 43 points in 56 games this season. 乌鸦传媒淭he Rockets are known for the way they develop defensemen and that was part of it.

乌鸦传媒淯ltimately, it was my decision and I really wanted to come here.乌鸦传媒�

Sufficed to say, neither Cal Foote nor the Rockets have any regrets with the decision.

In just his second season, no player on Kelowna乌鸦传媒檚 roster logs more ice time than Foote who plays in every conceivable situation, and most often against the other team乌鸦传媒檚 top lines.

Assistant GM Lorne Frey said the elder Foote has lived up to all expectations乌鸦传媒攁nd more.

乌鸦传媒淗e has great offensive instinct, he makes good decisions, a very cerebral player,乌鸦传媒� said Frey. 乌鸦传媒淗e乌鸦传媒檚 also really good defensively. It乌鸦传媒檚 a real tribute to his father who has taught him well, to become the well-rounded player he is.

乌鸦传媒淗e乌鸦传媒檚 worked hard at his game and has improved in some areas like his skating,乌鸦传媒� Frey added. 乌鸦传媒淥ne of his challenges is that his body continues to grow and develop and he乌鸦传媒檚 having to adjust and catch up to that. But he will and we think he乌鸦传媒檒l become a very good pro player in the future.乌鸦传媒�

Rockets head coach Jason Smith, who played against Adam Foote for more than a decade in the NHL, said while living up to a name can present some challenges for young players, Cal has dealt with any pressure extremely well.

乌鸦传媒淗e乌鸦传媒檚 done a great job, staying centred and engaged, and is a young player who wants to grow his game and keep getting better,乌鸦传媒� said Smith. 乌鸦传媒淥bviously there can be expectations that come with a name, but he乌鸦传媒檚 stayed focused on what he wants to do.乌鸦传媒�

As an added bonus, the Rockets have the pleasure of watching not one, but two Foote brothers develop over the next couple of seasons. Nolan, 16, is considered by more than a few scouts to be one of the best players to come out of the 2015 bantam draft.

Coincidentally, the younger Foote was drafted 43rd overall, in precisely the same spot as Cal two years earlier.

乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檙e very lucky to have both of them,乌鸦传媒� said Frey. 乌鸦传媒淲e were ecstatic when they both decided to come. It乌鸦传媒檚 worked out very well for us, and we feel pretty fortunate.乌鸦传媒�

Salmond CHL goalie of week乌鸦传媒�

A pair of shutouts over the Vancouver Giants has earned the Rockets乌鸦传媒� Brodan Salmond Canadian Hockey League goalie of the week honours.

The 18-year-old Calgary native, who was also named the WHL乌鸦传媒檚 goaltender of the week, stopped 41 shots in two victories last weekend.

Salmond made 22 saves in a 6-0 win over the Giants Friday in Kelowna, then 19 more in a 5-0 Rockets victory Saturday in Langley.