Rockets Ready for Home-And-Home with Americans
October 11, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kelowna Rockets News Release
Kelowna Rockets vs. the Tri-City Americans
(Kelowna Rockets, Credit: Cindy Rogers)
The Kelowna Rockets get set for a home-and-home weekend against the Tri-City Americans starting in Kennewick, WA. on Friday at the Toyota Center.
Assistant Coach Kris Mallette says he is hoping the additions of a few new players to the Rockets roster (Zablocki, Gally, Farren) will help jumpstart his squad moving forward.
"We feel each player brings intangibles to our team that we're lacking right now, and hopefully they can inject some life into the group," said Mallette. "That will translate into better results on the ice."
Friday night is the first time these two teams have met since the Rockets were eliminated in four-straight games in the opening round of the WHL Playoffs last season. Mallette says the returning players should remember that series well.
"As a staff we hope the returning players remain aware of what happened in playoffs last year when we were swept," Mallette said. "It should leave a sour taste in their mouths and they should be the best players out there looking to make amends."
During the 2017-2018 regular season these two teams were about as evenly matched as they could get. Having played each other four times, each team finished the season series with a 2-1-1-0 record. Tri-City then beat Kelowna in four games to eliminate the Rockets from the WHL Playoffs. Friday and Saturday will be the first two games of four this season between these two clubs.
Kelowna enters Friday night with a 1-8-0-0 record giving them two points, and placing them in fifth place in the B.C. Division. They currently sit two points behind the fourth place Kamloops Blazers, three points behind the third place Prince George Cougars, 10 points back of the second place Vancouver Giants, and the same for the first place Victoria Royals, who also have 12 points, but have played one less game.
Tri-City enters Friday night with a 3-2-0-0 record giving them six points and placing them in fourth in the U.S. Division. They are tied with the fifth place Everett Silvertips in points, but have played one less game. They are two points back of the third place Spokane Chiefs, and three back of the second place Seattle Thunderbirds. The Portland Winterhawks currently lead the U.S. Division with 11 points.
The Rockets and Americans go right back at it on Saturday in Kelowna at Prospera Place for the second half of their home-and-home. Puck drop on Saturday is at 7:05pm.
Kelowna is back in action following Saturday when they start a three-game road trip beginning on the coast with a visit to Save-On-Foods Memorial Arena in Victoria against the Royals. Kelowna plays on back-to-back nights in Victoria on October 19th and 20th before they head to Langley to take on the Vancouver Giants on Sunday, October 21st.
The Rockets are back home again on Tuesday, October 23rd, 2018 when they host the defending WHL Champions - the Swift Current Broncos at Prospera Place.
Tickets are on sale at selectyourtickets.com, at the Prospera Place box office or by phone at 250-762-5050.
Season tickets are on sale now. Season ticket holders will have first right of refusal on 2020 Memorial Cup presented by KIA ticket packages.
For season ticket info contact us by email - Gavin Hamilton - gavinh@kelownarockets.com or Andrew Deans - andrewd@kelownarockets.com, or by phone at 250-860-7825.
Images from this story
 Kelowna Rockets vs. the Tri-City Americans (Cindy Rogers) |
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