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WHL Kelowna Rockets

Preview: Rockets At Thunderbirds

February 28, 2022 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kelowna Rockets News Release


Kelowna Rockets centre Colton Dach
Kelowna Rockets centre Colton Dach
(Kelowna Rockets, Credit: Steve Dunsmoor)

The Kelowna Rockets will wrap up their season series with the Seattle Thunderbirds Tuesday night at the accesso ShoWare Center in Kent, WA, puck drop is set for 7:05 pm.

The two faced off at the accesso ShoWare Center on Sunday, with the Rockets claiming their first win in the four-game season series thanks to a third-period goal from Rilen Kovacevic. Seattle got on the board first, with the two trading goals three different times before Kovacevic scored the game-winner in the middle of the third period. Netminder Jari Kykkanen faced 40 shots, stopping 37 of them.

With the win on Sunday, the Rockets leapfrogged the T-Birds for fourth in the Western Conference standings with 66 points. As of Monday, they're eight points back of the Kamloops Blazers for first in the BC Division with four games in hand.

The 2022 WHL Playoffs will be played in a Conference Playoff format. The Conference Playoff format was last used during the 2014 WHL Playoffs, with the Division Playoff format in place since the 2015 WHL Playoffs. Click here to learn more about the WHL Playoff Format.

Following Tuesday's game, the Rockets will return home to host the Victoria Royals on Friday night and the Vancouver Giants on Saturday. Tickets for this weekend's games and all 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). Pavel Novak has missed the Rockets last two games with the flu.

The Thunderbirds will be without captain Tyrel Bauer, he's listed as out month-to-month with a lower-body injury. Nico Myatovic is listed as day-to-day with an upper-body injury.

Injury updates for all WHL teams can be found in the WHL Weekly Report.

ROCKETS TO WATCH

2005 born Andrew Cristall posted the second multi-goal game of his young career on Sunday. The rookie has 41 points (16G, 25), 20 penalty minutes and a +8 plus/minus rating through 42 games this season.

Rookie Rilen Kovacevic posted his first game winner on Sunday. The Rockets tenth round selection in the 2019 WHL Draft has 46 points (3G, 4A) and 70 penalty minutes through 46 games this year.

WESTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS

# Team GP W L OTL SOL PTS

1 X - Everett Silvertips 51 36 7 3 6 80

2 X Kamloops Blazers 52 36 14 2 0 74

3 X Portland Winterhawks 52 34 13 3 2 73

4 Kelowna Rockets 48 31 13 1 3 66

5 Seattle Thunderbirds 49 30 14 4 1 65

6 Vancouver Giants 48 20 26 2 0 42

7 Prince George Cougars 51 19 29 2 1 41

T8 Victoria Royals 51 15 31 4 1 35

T8 Tri-City Americans 50 15 30 5 0 35

T8 Spokane Chiefs 50 15 30 4 1 35

SEASON SERIES

vs SEATTLE

Dec. 7 @ Seattle 2-1 SOL

Dec. 11 vs Seattle 5-4 L

Feb. 27 @ Seattle 4-3 W

Mar. 1 @ Seattle 7:05 PM

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.

WATCH AND LISTEN

You can watch all Rockets games on CHL TV or listen on AM 1150.

All fans attending Rockets games will need to abide by the BC Provincial Health Authority, Prospera Place and the Western Hockey League's recently announced COVID-19 health and safety requirements which includes masks, double vaccination and their BC vaccine card.

Check out the Kelowna Rockets Statistics




Images from this story

Kelowna Rockets centre Colton Dach
Kelowna Rockets centre Colton Dach
(Steve Dunsmoor)		   



Western Hockey League Stories from February 28, 2022


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