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WHL Kelowna Rockets

Preview: Tri-City And Portland At Kelowna

February 18, 2023 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kelowna Rockets News Release


Kelowna Rockets right wing Andrew Cristall (left) vs. the Portland Winterhawks
Kelowna Rockets right wing Andrew Cristall (left) vs. the Portland Winterhawks
(Kelowna Rockets, Credit: Steve Dunsmoor)

The Kelowna Rockets will wrap up their five-game home stand with a pair of games this Family Day long weekend. The Portland Winterhawks will visit at 7:05 pm on Friday, the Tri-City Americans will then stop in for a 2:05 pm matchup on the holiday Monday.

Monday's game against Tri-City will be a Fan First Menu game with $2 hot dogs and $5-$6 options from Blue Ribbon. The Fan First Menu is available at all Monday to Wednesday regular season games.

The Rockets are coming off of a 5-2 win over the Everett Silvertips on Wednesday that saw them end a five-game losing streak. After a scoreless opening frame, the Rockets blew out of the gates in the second period with four unanswered goals. The Silvertips were able to get two back in the third period before Kelowna added an empty net goal.

Portland kicked off seven road games on Wednesday with a 6-2 loss to the Spokane Chiefs. Tied at one after one, Spokane scored four times in the second period to take a 5-1 lead into the third period. Dante Giannuzzi stopped 16 of the 21 shots he faced before being replaced by Jan Spunar.

The Winterhawks earned national recognition as an honourable mention on the 2022-23 Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings for Week 19.

Tri-City has a busy weekend, they'll host Seattle on Friday and Spokane on Saturday before Monday's game against Kelowna.

Tickets

Single-game tickets for all 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.

The last time these two met

Portland

The Rockets and Winterhawks last saw each other on October 28th and 29th in Portland. Andrew Cristall's overtime winner pushed the Rockets past the Winterhawks in the opening game, completing a 4-3 comeback. The next night they fell 5-3, tied at two after two the Winterhawks were able to pull away in the final frame.

Tri-City

Tri-City defeated Kelowna for the first time in four years back on December 3rd with a 5-1 win at the Toyota Center, their last win over the Rockets came back on October 13, 2018.

Roster Updates

Defencemen John Babcock and Marek Rocak remain listed on the injury report as day-to-day with upper-body injuries

Max Graham's upper-body injury time is down to 1-2 weeks

Logan Peskett suffered an upper-body injury in last Friday's loss to Prince George, he's listed as our for the next 2-3 weeks

Will Munro and Ethan Mittelsteadt both missed Tuesday's game due to injuries

Forwards Ty Hurley and Andrew Cristall both returned to Kelowna's lineup on Tuesday

Affiliate player Landon Cowper remains up with the team

Players to watch

Kelowna

Andrew Cristall returned to the lineup on Wednesday after missing the previous 14 games with a lower-body injury, recording his first career hat trick and adding an empty net goal for his fourth on the night.

Goaltender Jari Kykkanen made 41 saves on 43 shots Wednesday against the Silvertips, picking up his ninth win of the season.

Portland

Nineteen-year-old forward James Stefan leads the Winterhawks in scoring with 58 points (21G, 37A) through 50 games this season.

Gabe Klassen leads the Winterhawks in goals with 29, he recorded four goals against the Rockets back on September 24th.

Tri-City

Defenceman Lukas Dragicevic is ranked 12th among North American skaters for the upcoming NHL Draft. He leads the Americans in scoring as of Friday morning with 60 points (12G, 47) through 51 games.

Former Rocket Ethan Ernst leads the Ams in goals with 30 as of Friday afternoon.

Series at a glance

2022-23 Season Series vs POR (1-1-1-0)

Sept. 24 vs Portland 6-5 OTL

Oct. 28 @ Portland 4-3 OTW

Oct. 29 @Portland 5-3 L

Feb. 18 vs Portland 7:05 pm

2022-23 Season Series vs Tri-City (1-1-0-0)

Nov. 19 vs Tri-City 5-3 W

Dec. 3 @ Tri-City 5-1 L

Feb 20 vs Tri-City 2:05 pm

Mar. 12 @ Tri-City 4:05 pm

BC Division standings

as of Friday afternoon

TEAM GP W L OTL SOL PTS

1 X - Kamloops Blazers 49 33 10 4 2 72

2 Prince George Cougars 51 24 23 4 0 52

3 Vancouver Giants 51 20 25 4 2 46

4 Kelowna Rockets 51 18 30 3 0 39

5 Victoria Royals 53 15 32 5 1 36

US Division standings

as of Friday afternoon

TEAM GP W L OTL SOL PTS

1 X - Seattle Thunderbirds 50 39 9 1 1 80

2 X- Portland Winterhawks 52 36 12 2 2 76

3 Everett Silvertips 52 27 23 2 0 56

4 Tri-City Americans 51 25 20 4 2 56

5 Spokane Chiefs 51 10 35 2 4 26

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 right wing Andrew Cristall (left) vs. the Portland Winterhawks
Kelowna Rockets right wing Andrew Cristall (left) vs. the Portland Winterhawks
(Steve Dunsmoor)		   



Western Hockey League Stories from February 18, 2023


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