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WHL Kelowna Rockets

Preview: Rockets Ready For Home-And-Home Series

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


Kelowna Rockets centre Max Graham (right) battles the Vancouver Giants
Kelowna Rockets centre Max Graham (right) battles the Vancouver Giants
(Kelowna Rockets, Credit: Steve Dunsmoor)

The Kelowna Rockets will be looking to build on their four-game win streak when they face off against the Vancouver Giants in a home-and-home series that will kick off Friday night at the Langley Events Centre in Langley, BC.

The home game that the Rockets play on Saturday is home game number 20. The postponed game against the Giants that was set for January 7th has yet to be rescheduled, a new date for that game is expected to be announced soon. The Rockets thank you for your patience.

Kelowna's last four games have been against the Victoria Royals, downing them in each of those matchups. In Wednesday night's game, the Rockets picked up a 4-3 victory that moved them to 20-10-1-3 on the season. Scoreless after one, Andrew Cristall opened the scoring early in the second. Mark Liwiski and Victoria's Anthony Wilson then traded goals. John Babcock recorded his first WHL goal on a strange play, dumping the puck in along the glass, it ricocheted past Palmer into the Royals net. The Royals notched a pair to tie the game, but Jake Lee responded for Kelowna in the dying minutes with the game-winner. Seventeen-year-old Jari Kykkanen made his WHL debut, picking up his first WHL win on a 21 save performance.

The Giants fell 2-1 to the Kamloops Blazers on Wednesday in Kamloops. The Blazers entered the third period with a 2-0 lead, Fabian Lysell (13) pulled the Blazers within one just before the midway point of the period. Jesper Vikamn made 27 saves on 29 shots in the loss.

Vancouver will have a bit of a new look when it comes to their lineup. The team dealt captain Justin Sourdif to the Edmonton Oil Kings and defenceman Tanner Brown to the Winnipeg ICE at the trade deadline.

Nolan Flamand remains on the injured reserve, he is listed as out 2-4 four weeks with a lower-body injury. The centreman resumed skating this past week. You can find the Rockets injury report here.

BEKINS OKANAGAN FOOD BANK DONATION

Bekins Moving & Storage will be on the interlock collecting non-perishable food items for the Okanagan Food Bank. Fans who make a donation will be entered to win four (4) Club Seats and dinner for four (4) at Manhattan Point to a future Rockets game.

TICKETS

With capacity at 50 percent, limited single-game tickets remain. Tickets for Saturday's game 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.

THE LAST TIME THESE TWO MET

The Kelowna Rockets battled back to extend their point streak to six games with a 4-3 loss in overtime to the Vancouver Giants at the Langley Events Centre in Langley, BC on January 2nd. After back-to-back Rocket goals by Gabriel Szturc, the Rockets trailed by a goal heading into the third period. Jake Lee posted his 100th WHL regular-season point with an assist on Colton Dach's game-tying goal that forced overtime. Lee nailed the post ten seconds into overtime, the play then shifted to the Rockets zone where Zack Ostapchuk (8) ended things just 30 seconds into extra time. Making his seventh straight start, Talyn Boyko stopped 30 of the 34 shots fired on him.

WHO TO WATCH KELOWNA

* Mark Liwiski returned from a two-game suspension to post 13 shots on net and a pair of goals in his last two games. Vancouver has held the 20-year-old to just a single goal in their five meetings so far this season.

* Rockets leading scorer Pavel Novak is one point shy of 100 career WHL points. The Minnesota Wild prospect has posted 41 goals and 58 assists over 86 regular-season contests. VANCOUVER

* 2021 Boston Bruins first-round pick Fabian Lysell leads the Giants in scoring with 32 points over 25 games. Nine of his points this season have come against the Rockets, including a pair of four-point nights.

* Vegas Golden Knights prospect Jesper Vikman has been a workhorse for the Giants this season, appearing in 22 games. He owns a 13-7-2-0 record to go along with his 3.04 GAA and .904 sav%.

SEASON SERIES vs VANCOUVER (1-3-1-0)

Oct. 23 @ Vancouver 2-0 L

Oct. 29 @ Vancouver 7-2 L

Nov. 3 vs. Vancouver 7-6 OTW

Dec. 1 vs. Vancouver 5-3 L

Jan. 2 @ Vancouver 4-3 OTL

Jan. 7 vs. Vancouver postponed

Jan. 22 @ Vancouver postponed

Jan. 28 @ Vancouver 7:30 PM

Jan. 29 vs. Vancouver 7:05 PM

Feb. 9 vs. Vancouver 7:05 PM Mar. 5 vs. Vancouver 7:05 PM

Mar. 6 @ Vancouver 4:00 PM

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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 vaccine card.

Check out the Kelowna Rockets Statistics




Images from this story

Kelowna Rockets centre Max Graham (right) battles the Vancouver Giants
Kelowna Rockets centre Max Graham (right) battles the Vancouver Giants
(Steve Dunsmoor)		   



Western Hockey League Stories from January 28, 2022


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