Rockets Set to Take on Kamloops and Edmonton in Weekend Double-Header
February 15, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kelowna Rockets News Release
Kelowna Rockets vs. the Kamloops Blazers
(Kelowna Rockets, Credit: Marissa Baecker)
The Rockets outshot the Red Deer Rebels 37-18 in Wednesday night's 4-1 loss, but Rockets Assistant Coach says the team needs to cash in when they get their chances.
"It's a divisional game where we haven't seen them since Christmas, but they're an extremely hard working team that's had some success over the last little bit," Mallette said. "We just have to have the same mentality where we come out firing as a group. We need to think about getting pucks and people to the net and take advantage of some secondary opportunities. A greasy goal every once in a while won't hurt. Our guys will be up for these games. Every time we play Kamloops it's a good test and a good battle."
Friday night's tilt will be the fifth of eight meetings this season. The two teams opened the season against each other at Prospera Place on September 22nd. The Rockets got on the board 3:25 into the first period and never looked back. Kyle Topping (2G, 1A), Kole Lind (1G, 2A), and Cal Foote (3A) all registered three points to lead the Rockets to a 6-2 win. The teams squared off the very next night in Kamloops for their first home game. Once again, Kole Lind led the way with five points (2G, 3A) in the 5-1 Rockets win. The next meeting wasn't until December 27th when it took the Rockets 65 minutes and a shootout to secure a 2-1 win at Prospera Place. Two days later Lind scored all three Rockets goals in a 3-0 win in Kamloops. The two teams have three match-ups left after Friday's tilt. The Rockets will host the Blazers on February 24th before closing out the season series with a home and home series on March 9th in Kamloops and March 10th at Prospera Place.
Kelowna comes into Friday's game with a 34-18-4-1 record good for 73 points and a tie for first place in the division. The Victoria Royals are tied with 73 points, but with two more games played. The Vancouver Giants round out the top three in the division with 68 points. The Blazers are in fourth place with 56 points. The Rockets sit third in the Western Conference. They're only one point back of the Portland Winterhawks for second, and three points back of the Everett Silvertips for first. Kamloops sits ninth in the Conference.
Puck drop on Friday is at 7:05pm.
The Rockets will be back in action on Canadian Mental Health Night on Saturday night when they take on the Edmonton Oil Kings for the second and final time this season. The Oil Kings rolled into Prospera Place back on November 14th in the midst of a six game losing streak. Dillon Dube and Carsen Twarynski both had two goals and an assist to carry the Rockets to a 5-2 victory, extending Edmonton's losing streak to seven games.
The Edmonton Oil Kings enter their game on Friday night against the Vancouver Giants with a 17-32-5-2 record. Their 41 points have them currently sitting tied with the Calgary Hitmen for fifth in the Central Division. The Oil Kings are 10 points back of the Kootenay Ice for third spot. Edmonton is also tied with Calgary for 11th in the Eastern Conference.
The Rockets and the Canadian Mental Health Association Kelowna are paired up to present Talk Today and bring awareness about the importance of mental health this Saturday when the Rockets host the Edmonton Oil Kings.
Puck drop on Saturday at Prospera Place is at 7:05pm.
Tickets are available for Rockets home games through selectyourtickets.com, at the Prospera Place box office or by phone at 250-762-5050.
Images from this story
 Kelowna Rockets vs. the Kamloops Blazers (Marissa Baecker) |
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Western Hockey League Stories from February 15, 2018
- Silvertips Host Local Heroes Night on Saturday vs. Thunderbirds, Pennant Giveaway Sunday vs. Kamloops - Everett Silvertips
- Rockets Set to Take on Kamloops and Edmonton in Weekend Double-Header - Kelowna Rockets
- Chiefs to Use Pride Tape During Warm-Ups on Saturday Night - Spokane Chiefs
- Blazers at Home Friday for Don Hay Celebration Night - Kamloops Blazers
- Regina Pats Alumni to Play Soldier on Members in Shinny Game - Regina Pats
- Rockets Host Talk Today Mental Health Game on Saturday - Kelowna Rockets
- Pats to Retire Jock Callander's Jersey Sunday - Regina Pats
- Giants Stun the Winterhawks 4-2 Wednesday Down South - Vancouver Giants
- Royals Fall to Oil Kings in Shootout - Victoria Royals
- Rockets Topped by Red Deer - Kelowna Rockets
- Spokane Pulls out Victory in Final Minute, 3-2 over Kamloops - Spokane Chiefs
- Americans Edge Hitmen 4-3 - Calgary Hitmen
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