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WHL Kelowna Rockets

Preview: Cougars at Rockets

February 15, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kelowna Rockets News Release


Kelowna Rockets left wing Gabriel Szturc (center) vs. the Prince George Cougars
Kelowna Rockets left wing Gabriel Szturc (center) vs. the Prince George Cougars
(Kelowna Rockets, Credit: Steve Dunsmoor)

The red hot Kelowna Rockets will wrap up their three-game homestand on Wednesday against the Prince George Cougars.

Kelowna is 13-2-1-0 since returning from the holiday break in December. After having their eight-game win streak snapped on February 6th, the Rockets strung together a pair of wins over the weekend.

The Rockets opened the weekend with a 4-3 shootout win over the WHL leading Everett Silvertips. The Rockets didn't trail at all throughout the game, with the Silvertips pushing back three times to tie the game. Colton Dach, Gabriel Szturc and Nolan Flamand were the goal scorers for Kelowna. Talyn Boyko made 34 saves through 65 minutes of action. Rockets leading scorer Pavel Novak was the lone player for either team to light the lamp in the shootout.

Kelowna then hosted the Tri-City Americans on Saturday where they came back to win 5-4 in overtime. Novak opened the games scoring on a penalty shot, but the Rockets soon fell behind 3-1. Gabriel Szturc and Samuel Huo traded goals before the Rockets comeback kicked off. Trailing by a pair, Novak scored a power play goal and Andrew Cristall scored in the final minutes with Kelowna's net empty. Novak completed the hat trick, the third of his career, a minute into overtime on a cross-ice feed from Cristall. Jari Kykkanen won his third straight game since joining the Rockets.

The Cougars last played over the weekend at home, falling in back-to-back games to the Vancouver Giants. They fell 4-1 on Friday and 3-1 on Saturday.

This will be the first meeting between the Cougars and Rockets since December 10th. The January 11th and 12th games scheduled to be played in Prince George were postponed due to the WHL COVID-19 Protocols impacting the Cougars - the games will be rescheduled at a later date.

TICKETS

With capacity at 50 percent, limited single-game tickets remain.

Tickets for Wednesday and all other Rockets games are available at selectyourtickets.com, at the Prospera Place box office or by phone at 250-762-5050. Select Your Tickets is open 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and opens at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday home game days

ROSTER UPDATES

The Rockets will continue to be without right-winger Jake Poole (appendicitis). Colton Dach has been suspended two games for check to the head major and g.m. versus Tri-City on February 12, he will be eligible to return to the Rockets lineup on Saturday when they face the Cougars in Prince George.

WHAT'S GOING ON AT THE RINK

-Bark N Fly $500.00 Puck Shoot

- Capital News Human Bowling, winner receives $50.00 gift card to Train Station Pub

THE LAST TIME THESE TWO MET

The Prince George Cougars swiped their first victory of the season against the Kelowna Rockets with a 3-2 win at Prospera Place back on December 10. The Rockets power play could not get going. Andrew Cristall scored the lone power-play goal for the Rockets, but they were one-for-six on the night with the man advantage. Max Graham was the other goal scorer for Kelowna. Colby Knight made the start for Kelowna.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Kelowna:

Rockets leading scorer Pavel Novak is six points shy of his career high 58 that he set during the 2019-20 season. In Saturday's win over Tri-City he posted three goals and an assist, as well as seven shots on net.

Rookie Andrew Cristall has seven points in his last four contests, including a three point (1G, 2A) night on Saturday.

B.C. DIVISION STANDINGS

# Team GP W L OTL SOL PTS

1 Kamloops Blazers 46 33 12 1 0 67

2 Kelowna Rockets 41 26 11 1 3 56

3 Prince George Cougars 46 18 25 2 1 39

4 Vancouver Giants 43 18 23 2 0 38

5 Victoria Royals 45 12 28 4 1 29

Season Series vs PG (4-0-0-0)

Nov. 6 vs Prince George 4-1 W

Nov. 12 @ Prince George 5-2 W

Nov. 13 @ Prince George 3-0 W

Nov. 27 vs Prince George 4-1 W

Dec. 10 vs Prince George 3-2 L

Jan. 11 @ Prince George postponed

Jan. 12 @ Prince George postponed

Feb. 16 vs Prince George 7:05 PM

Feb. 18 @ Prince George 7:00 PM

Feb. 19 @ Prince George 7:00 PM

Mar. 9 vs Prince George 7:05 PM

Apr. 1 vs Prince George 7:05 PM

ONLINE 50/50

The Kelowna Rockets online 50/50 is back for the 2021-22 season!

The online 50/50 will give fans in Rockets fans located in British Columbia the chance to win during every Rockets home game this season. The 50/50 will also raise important dollars for the Kelowna Minor Hockey Association.

Tickets will be available for purchase on all game days starting at 9 a.m. PT and end at the start of the third period on the same day.

LINEUP SHEETS + GAME DAY PROGRAM

Due to Covid-19 protocols, printed lineup sheets will not be available at games for fans this season. They can be accessed online in the game day program.

The program will be uploaded by 3 p.m. on game day.

JDS PROJECTED LINEUP

The Rockets will post the JDS Mining Projected Lineup complete with line combos at least half an hour prior to puck drop for all games this season. You will be able to find the graphic on our Twitter, Facebook and Instagram stories.

Check out the Kelowna Rockets Statistics




Images from this story

Kelowna Rockets left wing Gabriel Szturc (center) vs. the Prince George Cougars
Kelowna Rockets left wing Gabriel Szturc (center) vs. the Prince George Cougars
(Steve Dunsmoor)		   



Western Hockey League Stories from February 15, 2022


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