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WHL Kelowna Rockets

Preview: Rockets Vs Blazers

December 27, 2021 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kelowna Rockets News Release


Kelowna Rockets pressure the Kamloops Blazers
Kelowna Rockets pressure the Kamloops Blazers
(Kelowna Rockets, Credit: Steve Dunsmoor)

The Kelowna Rockets will open their post-holiday break schedule on Tuesday with a home-and-home series against the Kamloops Blazers.

The Rockets will face off against the Blazers at the Sandman Centre at 7:00 p.m. on Tuesday, December 28, before returning to Prospera Place on Wednesday at 7:05 p.m. to play home game #14 of the season.

Kelowna and Kamloops played their final game against each other prior to the holiday break back on December 18 at Prospera Place.

The Rockets picked up a 7-4 win over the Blazers, moving to 13-9-0-3 on the season.

It took nearly ten minutes, but Andrew Cristall made the teddy bears rain down at Prospera Place on teddy bear night after Steel Quiring fed the puck out front to him. The 16-year-old posted a pair of goals and four shots net on the night. Nolan Flamand picked up four assists and a +5 plus/minus rating, he also went 14/18 in the faceoff circle. Talyn Boyko made 41 saves on 45 shots.

Kelowna announced today that they have signed Jari Kykkanen to a WHL Standard Player Agreement. The Rockets drafted the 6'3, 185-pound netminder in the 6th round (115) at the 2019 WHL Prospects Draft. He has joined the team in Kelowna.

The 17-year-old has appeared in seven games for the Drayton Valley Thunder of the AJHL this season, posting a record of 2-0-3, .896 SV% and 3.23 GAA.

The Rockets will be without Pavel Novak who is away at the 2022 World Junior Championship. Blazers leading scorer Logan Stankoven and netminder Dylan Garand are competing for Canada, Marko Satcha is playing for Slovakia.

Fans can purchase their tickets for Wednesday's game online at selectyourtickets.com, at the Prospera Place box office or by phone at 250-762-5050. The box office is open 11:00 a.m. to 4:00p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and opens at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday home game days.

PLAYERS TO WATCH

Kelowna:

Forward Steel Quiring posted a goal and three assists in the Rockets win over the Blazers on December 18.

Defenceman Jackson DeSouza posted his first goal, an assist and a +4 plus/minus rating in the victory over Kamloops on December 18. The 6'4 defenceman has five points (1G, 4A) through 24 games this season.

Kamloops:

Dylan Ernst's will more than likely be making both starts for Kamloops with Dylan Garand away at World Juniors. The 17-year-old made 22 saves on 27 shots of December 18 against Kelowna, he has a record of 4-4-0-0.

Overage defenceman Quinn Schmiemann posted a goal and an assist in the last meeting between the two. The co-captain of the Blazers has 21 points (8G, 13A) through 21 games this season.

B.C. DIVISION STANDINGS

# Team GP W L OTL SOL PTS

1 Kamloops Blazers 27 19 8 0 0 38

T2 Vancouver Giants 28 14 13 1 0 29

T2 Kelowna Rockets 25 13 9 0 3 29

4 Prince George Cougars 28 13 15 0 0 26

5 Victoria Royals 26 9 13 4 0 22

SEASON SERIES

Oct. 15 vs Kamloops 4-2 W

Nov. 10 vs Kamloops 3-2 W

Dec. 4 @ Kamloops 4-3 W

Dec. 18 vs Kamloops 7-4 W

Dec. 28 @ Kamloops 7:00 PM

Dec. 29 vs Kamloops 7:05 PM

Feb. 25 vs Kamloops 7:05 PM

Feb. 26 @ Kamloops 7:00 PM

Mar. 11 @ Kamloops 7:00 PM

Mar. 12 vs Kamloops 7:05 PM

Mar. 18 vs Kamloops 7:05 PM

Mar. 19 @ Kamloops 7:05 PM

Mar. 25 @ Kamloops 7:00 PM

Mar. 26 vs Kamloops 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 AM1150.

Six and twelve game mini packs are back! Mini packs can only be purchased through Select Your Tickets at the box office, the box office is open 11:00 a.m. to 4:00p.m. Tuesday through Friday, and opens at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday home game days.

Check out the Kelowna Rockets Statistics




Images from this story

Kelowna Rockets pressure the Kamloops Blazers
Kelowna Rockets pressure the Kamloops Blazers
(Steve Dunsmoor)		   



Western Hockey League Stories from December 27, 2021


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