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WHL Kelowna Rockets

Preview: Rockets Three Game Weekend

January 20, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kelowna Rockets News Release


Kelowna Rockets centre Dylan Wightman (right)
Kelowna Rockets centre Dylan Wightman (right)
(Kelowna Rockets, Credit: Steve Dunsmoor)

The Kelowna Rockets will have a busy weekend when they hit the ice for three games in as many nights, it's just their second three-in-three weekend of the season. The Rockets will kick things off on the road against the Vancouver Giants at 7:30 pm on Friday, the two will then shift back to Kelowna at 7:05 on Saturday, the Victoria Royals will then roll in for a 4:05 pm matchup at Prospera Place on Sunday.

Nineteen-year-old forward Gabriel Szturc was named the organization's 28th captain on Thursday, he will make his debut with the 'C' this weekend.

Kelowna has had the week off, last playing on the weekend in Victoria where they dropped both games. Falling 4-0 last Friday and then 6-3 the next night.

The Giants have also had the week off, their only two games this weekend are against the Rockets. They last played on Sunday, where they fell 7-3 to the Tri-City Americans on home ice.

Meanwhile, the Royals kicked off a four-game road trip on Wednesday with a 5-4 loss to the Americans, the Ams scored five unanswered goals to come back from a 4-0 deficit. Before facing the Rockets on Sunday, Victoria will make stops in Portland on Friday and Spokane on Saturday.

Tickets

Single-game tickets for Saturday's game and all other 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.

Bekins Food Drive

Bekins Moving and Storage will be collecting donations for the Central Okanagan Food Bank at gates one and two during Saturday night's game.

Fans who make a donation will be entered to win four single-game club seats and dinner for four at Manhattan Point to a future Rockets game.

Non-perishable food items that are most needed include: cookies, crackers, Chunky soup, peanut butter, healthy cereal, rice, Boost, Enfamil powder, canned meats, canned fruits, baby food pouches, nut-free granola bars, pasta and pasta sauce.

The last time these two met

Vancouver

The Rockets and Giants have only faced off once this season, with Vancouver taking the opening game of the nine-game season series 3-2 in overtime back on December 10th at the Langley Events Centre. Carson Golder and Max Graham both scored for Kelowna, while Jari Kykkanen made 28 saves on 31 shots.

Victoria

Sunday will be the final meeting of the 2022-23 regular season between Kelowna and Victoria. The two didn't have to wait long to see each other again, they just played each other last Saturday. Max Graham scored the opening goal of the game. Victoria then jumped ahead, netting four unanswered goals that the Rockets were never able to catch. The Rockets power play came alive on the night, finding the back of the net three times on their eight chances.

Roster Updates

Both Carson Golder (upper body) and Andrew Cristall (lower body) missed the Rockets last three games, they're listed as day-to-day on the injury report.

Forward Ty Hurley suffered a lower-body injury (week-to-week) in last Tuesday's game, he is listed as being out one more week on the injury report.

The weekly report is updated on Tuesday, click here to view the Rockets Injury Report.

Players to watch

Kelowna

Gabriel Szturc will make his debut with the 'C' on his jersey on Friday night. The 19-year-old sits second in team scoring with 39 points (10G, 29A) through 29 games this season. Last Friday he registered a career-high nine shots on net in a game, he then added another six shots on goal the next night along with a pair of assists.

Goaltender Jari Kykkanen replaced Talyn Boyko in net last Friday, making several key stops for the Rockets. He then started the game the next night against the Royals.

Vancouver

Overage forward Ty Thorpe was named the 20th captain in Giants history after they dealt Zack Ostapchuk to Winnipeg earlier this month. Thorpe leads Vancouver in scoring with 47 points (23G,24A) through 40 games.

Vegas Golden Knights prospect Jesper Vikman has once again carried most of the workload in the crease for the Giants this season. He's 13-13-0-1 with a 3.38 goals-against average, a .902 save percentage in 29 games for Vancouver this season.

Victoria

Forward Robin Sapousek was selected seventh overall in the 2022 CHL Import Draft. A teammate of Szturc's on Czechia at the World Juniors, Sapousek joined the Royals after the tournament. He's posted a goal and seven shots on net in his first three games as a Royal.

Winger Matthew Hodson recorded five points (2G, 3A) in two games against the Rockets last weekend. He's posted seven points and ten points in his last three games.

The series at a glance

Season Series vs VAN

Dec 10 @ Vancouver 3-2 OTL

Jan. 20 @ Vancouver 7:30 pm

Jan. 21 vs Vancouver 7:05 pm

Jan. 27 @ Vancouver 7:30 pm

Jan. 28 vs Vancouver 7:05 pm

Feb. 3 vs Vancouver 7:05 pm

Mar. 1o vs Vancouver 7:05 pm

Mar. 24 @ Vancouver 7:30 pm

Mar. 25 vs Vancouver 7:05 pm

Season Series vs VIC

Oct. 5 vs Victoria 3-0 W

Oct. 11 @ Victoria 2-1 OTW

Oct. 12 @ Victoria 5-2 L

Dec. 9 vs Victoria 3-2 L

Jan. 3 vs Victoria 4-2 L

Jan. 13 @ Victoria 4-0 L

Jan. 14 @ Victoria 6-3 L

Jan. 22 vs Victoria 4:05 pm

BC Division standings

as of Thursday evening

TEAM GP W L OTL SOL PTS

1 Kamloops Blazers 39 25 8 4 2 56

2 Prince George Cougars 41 18 19 4 0 40

3 Vancouver Giants 41 16 19 4 2 38

4 Kelowna Rockets 39 13 26 3 1 29

5 Victoria Royals 42 12 26 3 1 28

Watch and listen

Radio broadcast

Rockets games will be broadcast on 104.7 FM the Lizard this season with Regan Bartel calling all of the action.

Don't forget to download the RocketFAN app and visit rocketfan.ca for more exclusive Rockets content from Pattison. Fans can stream the radio broadcast of all Rockets games on the app.

Online video stream

All Rockets games will be available on WHL Live. WHL Live is available to fans anywhere in the world, providing high-quality streaming of WHL games on Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV platforms, via mobile with iOS and Android, and on the web using Safari or Google Chrome web browsers. Visit watch.chl.ca for complete details and subscription options.

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 centre Dylan Wightman (right)
Kelowna Rockets centre Dylan Wightman (right)
(Steve Dunsmoor)		   



Western Hockey League Stories from January 20, 2023


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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