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WHL Kelowna Rockets

Preview: Rockets At Winterhawks

November 19, 2021 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kelowna Rockets News Release


Kelowna Rockets vs. the Portland Winterhawks
Kelowna Rockets vs. the Portland Winterhawks
(Kelowna Rockets, Credit: Steve Dunsmoor)

A well-rested Kelowna Rockets team will put their seven-game point streak on the line tonight when they face off against the Portland Winterhawks in back-to-back meetings at the Veterans Memorial Coliseum

in Portland, OR.

Friday night's game is set to start at 7:00 PM, while Saturday's puck drop is 6:00 PM.

The streaking Rockets have gone 6-0-0-1 over their last seven games dating back to October 30, the only loss was in a shootout to the Winterhawks on Friday, November 5 at Prospera Place.

Kelowna is the first Canadian team in the WHL to head to the United States this season. It's the first trip south of the border for the Rockets since February 29, 2020, when the Rockets played back to back

games in Everett before Covid-19 prematurely ended the 2019-20 season.

Kelowna has had the week off, last playing on the weekend in Prince George. The Rockets picked up a pair of wins, downing the Cougars 5-2 Friday, then shutting them out 3-0 on Saturday. Colby Knight picked

up his first career shutout in Saturday night's contest, stopping 21 shots. Andrew Cristall opened the scoring for the Rockets, Max Graham gave the team a two-goal cushion and captain Tyson Feist cashed in the empty netter in the final minute of the game.

Twenty-year-old defenceman Jake Lee had a pair of assists on the Rockets first two goals.

Portland hosted the undefeated Everett Silvertips (12-0-0-1) on Tuesday night, the 'Tips came back in the third period to force overtime where they won the game 1:24 into extra time.

TALE OF THE TAPE

Portland Winterhawks (5-9-1-1 - 12 points)

3rd U.S. Division | 6th Western Conference

Power Play: 15/72 - 20.8%

Penalty Kill: 62/75 - 82.7%

Last Ten: 2-7-1-0 Streak: 0-3-1-0

GF: 42 GA: 59

PIM: 235

Kelowna Rockets (8-3-0-1 - 17 points)

2nd B.C. Division | 4th Western Conference

Power Play: 11/36 - 30.6%

Penalty Kill: 35/44 - 79.6%

Last Ten: 7-2-0-1 Streak: 6-0-0-1

GF: 46 GA: 41

PIM: 148

THE LAST TIME THESE TWO MET

The two met for the first time this season on Friday, November 5 at Prospera Place.

In a busy first period, they combined for six goals, with the Winterhawks holding a 4-2 lead through 20 minutes of play. Colby Knight made the start for the Rockets, but was replaced by Cole Tisdale 13:43

into the game after letting in three goals on six shots.

After a scoreless second period, Kelowna clawed back in the third with goals from Jake Poole and Pavel Novak to force extra time. During overtime, the two exchanged three shots each but remained scoreless.

The Winterhawks emerged victorious off of a goal from James Stefan in the fifth round of the shootout.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Kelowna:

Defenceman John Babcock has started to find his footing as a consistent contributor. The 17-year-old

has posted six assists, seven shots on goal, nine penalty minutes, a +6 plus/minus rating and a fight over the Rockets last seven games.

Defenceman Jake Lee had a pair of assists, a +3 plus/minus rating and three shots on net in last

Saturday's victory over the Prince George Cougars. The 20-year-old is third in team scoring and leads all Rockets defencemen with 11 points (4G, 7A) through 12 games. He's also third among all Kelowna skaters with 29 shots on net.

Portland:

Detroit Red Wings prospect Cross Hanas leads the Winterhawks in scoring with 16 points (4G, 5A) through 16 games.

He posted three assists against the Rockets in their lone matchup so far this season on November 5.

Aidan Litke had a goal and an assist in Tuesday night's matchup against the Silvertips. The Winnipeg, Man. product has five

points (3G, 2A) through 15 games this season.

B.C. DIVISION STANDINGS

# Team GP W L OTL SOL PTS

1 Kamloops Blazers 15 13 2 0 0 26

2 Kelowna Rockets 12 8 3 0 1 17

3 Vancouver Giants 13 7 5 1 0 15

4 Prince George Cougars 15 6 9 0 0 12

5 Victoria Royals 14 1 11 2 0 4

U.S. DIVISION STANDINGS

# Team GP W L OTL SOL PTS

1 Everett Silvertips 13 12 0 0 1 25

2 Seattle Thunderbirds 14 10 3 1 0 21

3 Portland Winterhawks 16 5 9 1 1 12

4 Spokane Chiefs 12 3 7 2 0 8

5 Tri-City Americans 12 3 7 2 0 8

as of Thursday afternoon

SEASON SERIES (0-0-0-1)

Nov. 5 vs Portland 5-4 SOL

Nov. 19 @ Portland 7:00 PM

Nov. 20 @ Portland 6:00 PM

Jan. 8 vs Portland 7:05 PM

WATCH AND LISTEN

You can watch all Rockets games on WHL Live on CHL TV. More are details available by visiting watch.CHL.ca.

You can also listen to the game on AM1550.

Puck drop is set for 7:00 PM on Friday and 6:00 PM on Saturday.

Check out the Kelowna Rockets Statistics




Images from this story

Kelowna Rockets vs. the Portland Winterhawks
Kelowna Rockets vs. the Portland Winterhawks
(Steve Dunsmoor)		   



Western Hockey League Stories from November 19, 2021


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