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WHL Kelowna Rockets

Preview: Cougars At Rockets

January 10, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kelowna Rockets News Release


Kelowna Rockets defenceman Marek Rocak
Kelowna Rockets defenceman Marek Rocak
(Kelowna Rockets, Credit: Steve Dunsmoor)

The Kelowna Rockets will host the Prince George Cougars on Tuesday night at Prospera Place - puck drop is set for 7:05 pm.

It will also be a Fan First Menu night with $2 hot dogs and $5-$6 options from Blue Ribbon. The Fan First Menu is available at all Monday to Wednesday regular season games.

The Rockets split their weekend home and home series with the Kamloops Blazers, snapping a six-game losing streak with a 3-2 on Friday at Prospera. Kelowna will be looking to bounce back from a 5-1 loss to the Blazers on Saturday in Kamloops. Tied at one after one, the Blazers scored three unanswered goals in the second period to take a stranglehold on the game. Kamloops then added another in the third. Max Graham scored the lone goal of the game for Kelowna, while Talyn Boyko faced 43 shots on the night.

Prince George hosted the Everett Silvertips for a pair of games on the weekend, also splitting their series. Everett picked up a 4-2 win on Friday, while the Cougars struck back with a 3-1 victory on Saturday.

Tickets

Single-game tickets for all Rockets games are available at Select Your Tickets. Tickets can be purchased online through www.selectyourtickets.com, at the Prospera Place box office, or by phone at 250-762-5050.

Mini Packs are now on sale for the 2022-23 season, pick from between a six or twelve-game pack. Click here to learn more about Mini Packs.

The last time these two met

The Cougars and Rockets last played on November 9th in a goal-filled affair that saw Kelowna claim an 8-6 win.

Adam Kydd and Andrew Cristall both posted five-point nights, with Kydd recording his first career hat trick. Goaltender Talyn Boyko made 22 saves on 28 shots.

Roster Updates

Adam Kydd is nearing his return from a lower-body injury, the 20-year-old has been out since November 26th. It's not known whether he will play on Tuesday or not.

Click here to view the Rockets Injury Report.

Players to watch

Kelowna

Rockets fans will get their first look at Ethan Mittelsteadt and Ty Hurley on home ice after they were acquired from the Seattle Thunderbirds, along with three draft picks in exchange for the Colton Dach deal on Saturday. The duo made their debut with the Rockets on Saturday in Kamloops, with Mittelsteadt picking up an assist on the Rockets lone goal.

Gabriel Szturc is expected to return to the Rockets lineup after helping Czechia secure a silver medal at the World Juniors.

Portland

Koehn Ziemmer, the fourth overall pick in the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft, is tied for the lead in Cougars scoring with 52 points (20G, 32A) through 36 games. A late 2004 birthdate, the Cougars second leading scorer from last season, will be eligible for the NHL Draft for the first time this summer. NHL Central Scouting has ranked Ziemmer a "B" rating on the Preliminary Players to Watch list, which projects him to be a 2nd or 3rd-round candidate.

Riley Heidt, who was selected second overall in the WHL Prospects Draft, is tied with Ziemmer for the lead in Cougars scoring with 52 points (20G, 32A) through 36 games. A late 2004 birthdate, the Cougars second leading scorer from last season, will be eligible for the NHL Draft for the first time this summer. NHL Central Scouting has ranked Heidt an "A" rating on their Preliminary Players to Watch List which projects him to be a first-round candidate for this year's draft.

Series at a glance

2022-23 Season Series vs PG (1-1-0-0)

Sept. 30 @ Prince George 6-3 L

Oct. 1 @ Prince George 5-1 W

Nov. 9 vs Prince George 8-6 L

Jan. 10 vs Prince George 7:05 pm

Feb. 7 @ Prince George 7:00 pm

Feb. 8 @ Prince George 7:00 pm

Feb 10 vs Prince George 7:05 pm

Mar. 8 vs Prince George 7:05 pm

Mar. 15 @ Prince George 7:00 pm

BC Division standings

as of Monday evening

TEAM GP W L OTL SOL PTS

1 Kamloops Blazers 36 22 8 4 2 50

2 Vancouver Giants 38 16 16 4 2 38

3 Prince George Cougars 36 16 17 3 0 35

4 Kelowna Rockets 36 13 20 3 0 29

5 Victoria Royals 39 10 25 3 1 24

Online 50/50

The Kelowna Rockets online 50/50 is back for the 2022-23 season!

The online 50/50 will give fans in Rockets fans located in British Columbia and those who are attending the game 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.

Check out the Kelowna Rockets Statistics




Images from this story

Kelowna Rockets defenceman Marek Rocak
Kelowna Rockets defenceman Marek Rocak
(Steve Dunsmoor)		   



Western Hockey League Stories from January 10, 2023


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