Rockets and Winterhawks Play Double-Dip
November 6, 2015 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kelowna Rockets News Release
Tonight's Preview: The Kelowna Rockets play game two of a three game U.S Division road trip tonight with a stop in Portland. This is the first of four meetings between the Rockets and Winterhawks this season. The two teams meet again tomorrow night. This is the first meeting of the season between these two teams since last season's epic six game Western Conference championship series.
The Rockets won game six at the Moda Centre (8-4) with Dillon Dube and Madison Bowey each scoring twice in the win. These two teams will meet twice in Kelowna this season, with games scheduled for December 5th and January 29th. Last season the Rockets were 1-1-2-0 in four regular season games against the Winterhawks, losing twice in overtime by scores of 3-2 and 4-3. The Rockets lone win was a 5-0 victory in Portland. The one regulation loss came in a 4-3 setback at Prospera Place. The Rockets are coming off a 3-1 win in Tri City Tuesday night. Nick Merkley scored two-third period goals in the team's 11th win of the season. Kole Lind also scored for the Rockets, who received a 25 performance from Jackson Whistle. The Rockets were 1/5 on the power play while killing off 7 of 8 Americans power plays. The Rockets have won six of their last eight games overall. The team's next home game is November 11th against the visiting Vancouver Giants.
Specialty teams not ordinary: The Rockets power play has struck for at least one goal in six consecutive games. Over that span it is 8 for 26 (31%). The penalty killing unit has killed off 28 of 31 penalties against them over that same six game stretch.
Head to Head vs. Winter Hawks: The Rockets are 6-7-2-1 in the last 16 meetings between these two teams, which is a span of five seasons. The Rockets have just two regulation wins in their last 8 regular season appearances at Moda Center/Memorial Coliseum. Both teams have four wins in their last five games.
Dube added to Team WHL: Dillon Dube's tremendous start to the season has caught the eye of Hockey Canada. The 17 year-old has been added to Team WHL, which will face the Russian Selects in back-to-back games in Kelowna and Kamloops next Monday and Tuesday. Joining Dube will be teammate Nick Merkley. Forward Rourke Chartier is unable to play as he recovers from an upper body injury.
'Linny' let's loose: Overage forward Cole Linaker is off to a great start to the season. The 20 year-old has 6+4 in 14 games. Last season Linaker had just two goals in his first 13 games. Linaker has goals in three of his last four games and goals in four of his last six. Linaker also has points in four of his last six games. Not bad for a forward who prides himself on being a strong defensive minded player.
This and That: The Rockets received an honourable mention in Wednesday's CHL Top 10 rankings. To start the season, before the puck was even dropped on the 2015-2016 campaign, the Rockets were rated fifth.....Tyson Baillie and Lucas Johansen share the same birthday. The two were born on November 16th. Baillie will turn 20 while Johansen will turn 18....The Rockets have attracted the 5th most fans in the WHL as they close out the month of October. The team has attracted an average of 5,107 fans per game after seven home games ...Jackson Whistle has started eight of the last eleven games...Tyson Baillie has averaged 28 goals over his last three seasons...The Rockets next play three games in three nights January 29th, 30th and 31st with two of those three games on home ice....The Rockets had two players taken in the NHL draft. Nick Merkley was taken in the first round by Arizona. Devante Stephens was chosen in the 5th round by Buffalo...Cole Linaker (Oilers), Tomas Soustal (Flames) and Tyson Baillie (Flames) all received free agent tryouts...The Rockets were 3-2-0-0 in five games during the pre-season.
Who's Hot: Kole Lind has four points (2+2=4) in his last six games...Tyson Baillie has 4+12 in his last eight games...Baillie is riding a six game point streak (3+11) over that period ...Dillon Dube has 8+9 in his last seven games and has collected 14 points in his last six games...Dillon Dube has points in ten of 13 games this season....Lucas Johansen has one more point this season as he did all of last year...Nick Merkley has 3+6=9 in his last seven games. Who's Not: Tomas Soustal hasn't scored in seven straight games. The second year forward had five goals in his first six games of the regular season....Justin Kirkland has one point (a goal) in his last nine games...Calvin Thurkauf has one goal in his last nine games.
Milestone Makers: Rourke Chartier has played 195 career games....Cole Linaker plays in his 198th career game tonight ...Nick Merkley has 157 career points.....Merkley scored his 50th career goal Tuesday night when he closed out the scoring with an empty net goal against Tri City....Merkley played in his 150th game last Saturday night vs. the Hurricanes...Riley Stadel is playing in his 200th career game this evening....Stadel has 94 career points.
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Western Hockey League Stories from November 6, 2015
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- Pats lose 3-1 - Regina Pats
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- Rockets and Winterhawks Play Double-Dip - Kelowna Rockets
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