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WHL Kelowna Rockets

First Place Rockets in Prince Albert Tonight

December 18, 2015 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kelowna Rockets News Release


Tonight's Preview: The Kelowna Rockets play game five of an Eastern Division road trip tonight against the Prince Albert Raiders. It is the lone meeting of the season between the two teams and the first time these clubs have met since two blockbuster trades in January of last season. The Rockets are coming off a 1-0 win in Moose Jaw Wednesday night. Jackson Whistle made 27 saves in his second shutout of the season. Dillon Dube scored the lone goal in the team's 25th victory of the season. The win came a night after earning a 6-3 triumph in Swift Current. Tyson Baillie scored three times while Kole Lind had 1+1=2 and Dillon Dube had two assists. Michael Herringer earned the win in goal. The Rockets have won 20 of their last 25 games overall (20-4-0-1) and are 12-2-0-0 on home ice and 13-5-1-0 on the road. Overall; the Rockets have points in 17 of 19 games (16-2-1-0). Following tonight's game, the Rockets conclude the road trip in Saskatoon against the Blades. Overall, the team has won six of its last seven games.

Trading Partners: The Kelowna Rockets and Prince Albert Raiders made two significant trades last season. The Rockets (December 10/2014) picked up 19 year-old's Josh Morrissey and Gage Quinney from the Raiders for Austin Glover, Jesse Lees and a pair of bantam picks. Then on January 6/2015, the Rockets acquired the playing rights to 19 year-old Leon Draisaitl for forward Kris Schmidli, defenceman Dalton Yorke, a first round bantam pick in 2015 and a 4th round bantam selection.

Eastern Division Roady Results:

2013-2014: 6-0-0-0 points

2011-2012: 2-2-2-0=6 points

2009-2010: 3-3-0-0=6 points

2007-2008: 3-1-2-0=8 points

2005-2006: 6-0-0-0 points

Oh Canada! Nick Merkley and Rourke Chartier are in Finland representing Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championships. The Rockets have been well represented at the World Juniors. Madison Bowey, Josh Morrissey and GM Bruce Hamilton came home with a gold medal last year from the prestigious tournament. Other notable players from the Rockets that have played for Canada include: Jamie Benn, Tyler Myers, Brandon McMillan, Tyson Barrie, Luke Schenn, Blake Comeau, Shea Weber, Josh Gorges, Chuck Kobasew, Brett McLean and Robb Gordon. If Merkley and Chartier stick, they will be the 14th and 15th players from the Rockets to play for Team Canada.

Whistle Racking Up Winning Record: Twenty year-old Jackson Whistle is going after his 86th career win in a Kelowna Rockets uniform this evening. Here are the franchise leaders:

1)  Adam Brown: 107 wins

2) Jordan Cooke: 92 wins

3) Jackson Whistle: 85 wins

4) Kelly Guard: 83 wins

This and That: Tyson Baillie's hat-trick Tuesday was the first of his WHL career in his 291st career game...Riley Stadel's goal Tuesday was his first in 24 games dating back to last season....Tanner Wishnowski's goal Tuesday was his first in 11 games...The Rockets have just three players on their roster (excluding Rourke Chartier from Saskatoon) from Saskatchewan in their line up on this road trip. Kole Lind is from nearby Shaunavon while Rodney Southam is from Saskatoon and Jordan Borstmayer is from St. Brieux...For a fourth consecutive week the Rockets are rated as the 4th best team in the CHL Top 10 rankings....Tomas Soustal will attend the Czech Republic's training camp in an effort to earn a spot on its World Junior team...Calvin Thurkauf will represent Switzerland at the World Junior's....The Rockets play 12 games in December with 7 of those 12 on the road...Three members of the Rockets have been rated by NHL Central Scouting. Lucas Johansen and Dillon Dube are rated as 'B' prospects for June's draft in Buffalo. Tomas Soustal, who was not selected last year, is ranked as a 'C' prospect...Rookie Gordie Ballhorn leads the Rockets with a +19 ratings...Cal Foote turned 17 on Sunday....Eight of Justin Kirkland's 11 goals have been scored on the road this season....Jackson Whistle has started 21 of the last 27 games.

Who's Hot: Tyson Baillie has points in 20 of his last 23 games......Justin Kirkland has points in 8 of his last 12 games. Kirkland has 3+12 over that period...Cole Linaker has points in 7 of his last 11 games. Linaker has 4+5=9 over that stretch...Dillon Dube has 12+15' in his last 19 games....Lucas Johansen has 10 more point this season as he did all of last year.

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