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WHL Kelowna Rockets

Kelowna Rockets Release Regular Season Home Schedule

June 23, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kelowna Rockets News Release


Kelowna Rockets faceoff
Kelowna Rockets faceoff
(Kelowna Rockets, Credit: Steve Dunsmoor)

The Kelowna Rockets announced today their 34-game home schedule for the 2022-23 regular season, kicking off their season by hosting the Portland Winterhawks at Prospera Place on Saturday, September 24 at 7:05 pm.

The Rockets will return to interdivisional play against all other 21 Western Hockey League teams, last season's WHL regular season schedule 2021-22 schedule did not feature any interlocking games between the Eastern Conference and Western Conference.

The Eastern Division (Brandon Wheat Kings, Moose Jaw Warriors, Prince Albert Raiders, Regina Pats, Saskatoon Blades and Winnipeg ICE) will make their first visit to Kelowna since the 2019-20 season, while the Rockets will pay a visit to the Central Division teams (Calgary Hitmen, Edmonton Oil Kings, Lethbridge Hurricanes, Medicine Hat Tigers, Red Deer Rebels and Swift Current Broncos).

Western Hockey League teams were permitted to announce their home schedule starting today, the Rockets away schedule will be released in early July when the WHL announces the full regular-season schedule. Details on individual game tickets for the Rockets pre-season and regular-season games at Prospera Place will be released later this summer.

Rockets season ticket holders have been mailed their renewal packages, if you have not received yours please contact the Rockets office.

Season seats for new season seat holders are now on sale, to learn more please click here.

Marquee Home Matchups:

* 2021 WHL Rookie of the Year, and projected first overall 2023 NHL pick, Connor Bedard and the Regina Pats will make their one and only visit to Prospera Place on Tuesday, November 29th. Bedard became the first WHL player to be granted exceptional player status, allowing him to play the entire 2020-21 season as a 15-year-old. This past season he posted 100 points 62 (51G, 49A) as a 16-year-old.

* 2022 WHL Rookie of the year winner Brayden Yager and the Moose Jaw Warriors will make their lone visit of the season on Saturday, November 26. Former Kelowna Rockets defenceman Kaedan Korczak's younger brother Ryder also plays for the Warriors, he was selected in the third round of the 2021 NHL Draft by the New York Rangers.

* The defending WHL Regular Season/Eastern Division Champion Winnipeg ICE will make their first visit to Kelowna since relocating from Kootenay on Saturday, October 22 - which also happens to be the Rockets Candy Scramble game. The ICE feature a handful of high-profile players including highly touted 2022 NHL Draft-eligible forwards Matthew Savoie and Conor Geekie, the pair went first and second overall in the 2019 WHL Prospects Draft.

* The annual Teddy Bear Toss game will take place on Friday, December 9 against the Victoria Royals.

* 2021-22 WHL Player of the Year, Dallas Stars Prospect, Logan Stankoven and the Kamloops Blazers will make four visits to Prospera Place this season. Kamloops and Kelowna faced off a total of 14 times last season, with the two splitting the season series seven games apiece.

* The lone 2:05 pm start time of the season will be Monday, February 20 when the Tri-City Americans visit for the annual Family Day game.

* The Rockets will take on the Seattle Thunderbirds for the first time since the T-Birds eliminated the Rockets in the opening round of the 2021-22 WHL Playoffs on Friday, October 7. After defeating the Kelowna, the Thunderbirds knocked off the Portland Winterhawks and Kamloops Blazers en route to an appearance in the WHL Final, where they fell 4-2 to the Edmonton Oil Kings. Kelowna and Seattle will face off at Prospera Place one more time on Friday, December 30.

Fast Facts:

* Longest Homestand: The Rockets season-high five-game homestands is set to take place from February 10 - February 20; Prince George, Saskatoon, Everett, Portland and Tri-City will all visit during that time frame.

* Holiday Break: The Rockets final home game before the holiday break will take place on Friday, December 9 vs Victoria, they'll then resume play on Tuesday, December 27 vs the Kamloops Blazers.

* Weekend Warriors: 23 of the Rockets 34 home games will take place on the weekend, with nine happening on Fridays, 13 on Saturdays and one on a Sunday.

Check out the Kelowna Rockets Statistics




Images from this story

Kelowna Rockets faceoff
Kelowna Rockets faceoff
(Steve Dunsmoor)		   



Western Hockey League Stories from June 23, 2022


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