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WHL Kelowna Rockets

Kelowna Rockets Against Vancouve Preview

December 1, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kelowna Rockets News Release


Kelowna Rockets' Gabriel Szturc battles Vancouver Giants' Ty Halaburda
Kelowna Rockets' Gabriel Szturc battles Vancouver Giants' Ty Halaburda
(Kelowna Rockets, Credit: Steve Dunsmoor/Kelowna Rockets)

The Kelowna Rockets will kick off their next eight games on the road this weekend with games against Vancouver on Friday and Seattle on Saturday.

The Rockets will be looking to pick up their third win in a row on Friday. On Wednesday defenceman Marek Rocak lifted the Rockets past the Wenatchee Wild in overtime on Wednesday night at Prospera Place. In their final visit of the regular season to Kelowna, the Wild were able to come back from a 3-1 deficit to tie the game in the second period. The two then traded goals in the third period, which resulted in extra time to determine a winner.

The Giants did not have a mid-week game this week. Last weekend they fell 6-3 in Kamloops to the Blazers on Friday, the next night in Langley they were defeated 5-2 by the Tri-City Americans. Earlier this week they named Calgary Flames sixteenth overall pick Samuel Honzek their 21st captain. Honzek has been out with an injury he suffered in the preseason with Calgary but could make his 2023-24 WHL season debut tomorrow against the Rockets.

The Thunderbirds meanwhile do not have a Friday night game and did not play a midweek game, meaning that three of their last four games have been against the Rockets.

ROCKETS ROSTER UPDATES

Kayden Longley remains out with a lower body injury

Trae Johnson remains out with an upper body injury

Ben Thornton, who missed the Rockets last game, is out indefinitely with an upper body injury

Ismail Abougouche is listed out with an upper-body injury on this week's report

Kayden Sadhra-Kang, who was acquired on Thursday, is expected to join the Rockets and make his debut sometime this weekend

The Rockets injury report is updated weekly and can be viewed here.

ROCKETS TO WATCH

Defenceman Marek Rocak scored the overtime winner on Wednesday against the Wenatchee Wild

Ethan Neutens recorded his first career multi-goal game on Wednesday

SEASON RECORDS

vs GIANTS

Oct. 21 vs VAN - 6-5 W

Dec. 1 @ VAN - 7:00 pm

Jan. 19 vs VAN - 7:05 pm

Jan. 21 @ VAN - 2:00 pm

Feb. 23 vs VAN - 7:05 pm

Mar 1 @ VAN - 7:00 pm

Mar. 22 @ VAN - 7:00 pm

Mar. 23 vs VAN - 7:05 pm

vs THUNDERBIRDS

Nov. 22 at SEA - 2-0 L

Nov. 25 vs SEA - 4-2 W

Dec. 2 at SEA - 6:05 pm

Jan. 10 vs SEA - 7:05 pm

THE LAST TIME THESE TWO MET

vs GIANTS

The Kelowna Rockets extended their win streak to three games with a 6-5 victory over the Vancouver Giants on October 21 at Prospera Place.

It was a seesaw affair. After jumping out to a 2-0 lead, the Giants pushed back with three answered goals to take a 3-2 lead. The Rockets then leapfrogged back into the lead by the end of the second period with two more goals. The Giants pulled back within one early into the third, but Kelowna responded with two more goals. Vancouver made it a one-goal game once again in the third period, but Kelowna was able to hold off the final press. Tij Iginla was named the first star of the game after recording two goals and two assists to extend his point streak to four games. Andrew Cristall was the second star of the night, pushing his point streak to seven games with a goal and two assists. Jari Kykkanen made 34 saves on 39 shots to collect his fourth win of the campaign.

vs THUNDERBIRDS

After being shut out by the T-birds on November 22, the Rockets responded by doubling them up 4-2 on November 25 at Prospera Place.

Max Graham made the teddy bears rain down at Prospera Place, becoming the tenth Rocket to score a teddy bear goal. Andrew Cristall, who made his return to the lineup after missing the last four games with an upper-body injury, was named the game's first star after recording an assist and two goals, including the game-winner. Goaltender Jari Kykkanen made 43 saves on 45 shots.

Check out the Kelowna Rockets Statistics




Images from this story

Kelowna Rockets' Gabriel Szturc battles Vancouver Giants' Ty Halaburda
Kelowna Rockets' Gabriel Szturc battles Vancouver Giants' Ty Halaburda
(Steve Dunsmoor/Kelowna Rockets)		   



Western Hockey League Stories from December 1, 2023


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