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WHL Kelowna Rockets

Rockets face divisional foes this weekend

January 3, 2019 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kelowna Rockets News Release


Kelowna Rockets defenceman Joe Gatenby vs. the Kamloops Blazers
Kelowna Rockets defenceman Joe Gatenby vs. the Kamloops Blazers
(Kelowna Rockets, Credit: Marissa Baecker)

The Kelowna Rockets will face two division foes this weekend, the Prince George Cougars and Kamloops Blazers. Kelowna will host the Cougars at Prospera Place tomorrow night at 7:05 pm before heading to Kamloops to face the Blazers at the Sandman Centre at 7:00 pm Saturday night.

The Rockets have been out of action since last Saturday when they defeated the Blazers 2-1 on home ice. Assistant Captain, Kyle Topping says that the Rockets are looking forward to playing this weekend.

"We're used to these guys," said Topping. "We kind of know what the Cougars and Blazers game styles are because we play them so many times. Our coaches have done a great job of preparing us and telling us what to expect."

Tomorrow's game will be the sixth of nine meetings between the two teams this season. The Cougars were in Kelowna on September 28th where they claimed a 4-2 victory over the Rockets. Two days later Kelowna travelled to Prince George for back to back games on September 28th and 29th. The Cougars won the first game 3-2, while Kelowna responded the next night with a 5-2 win where Leif Mattson (2G, 1A), Kyle Topping (1G, 2A) and Nolan Foote (1G, 2A) all had three-point nights. The Rockets won 4-3 in overtime off the stick of Nolan Foote on October 27th at Prospera Place. Prince George took the last meeting 4-3 in overtime back on November 14th at the CN Centre.

The Rockets will see the Cougars next on January 11th and 12th when they travel to Prince George to play back to back games. The two teams will wrap up the season series at Prospera Place on February 8th.

The Rockets head into tomorrow nights contest with 37 points and a 17-17-3-0 record; they're currently tied with the Victoria Royals for second in the B.C. Division. Kelowna is ten points ahead of the fourth place Cougars who have a record of 12-21-1-2. The Rockets are six points in front of the third place Kamloops Blazers; they have a record of 14-17-2-1. Meanwhile, the Vancouver Giants sit atop the B.C. Division with 48 points and a 23-11-2-0 record.

Following Friday nights game the Rockets will pack up and head to Kamloops to play the Blazers.

Kelowna has already played the Blazers four times this season. They opened the regular season against each other with a home-and-home series; the Blazers were victorious on home ice with a 4-1 win over Kelowna on September 21st, the next night they defeated the Rockets 3-1 at Prospera Place. Last weekend they played another home and home series; the Blazers defeated the Rockets 3-2 in overtime on December 28th, but Kelowna responded the next night with a 2-1 win at Prospera Place.

The Rockets and Blazers will see each other another five times after Saturday. The Rockets will host the Blazers on Saturday, February 2nd. A week later, they'll play in Kamloops on Saturday, February 9th. They'll then get reacquainted on Saturday, February 23rd right here at Prospera Place. The two teams will wrap up their season series with another home-and-home series starting in Kamloops on Friday, March 8th before heading back to Kelowna the next night.

Come cheer on the Rockets tomorrow night. Tickets are on sale at selectyourtickets.com, at the Prospera Place box office or by phone at 250-762-5050.

For season ticket, mini pack, group seat and suite information fill out this forum, and one of our ticket representatives will be in contact with you.

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Images from this story

Kelowna Rockets defenceman Joe Gatenby vs. the Kamloops Blazers
Kelowna Rockets defenceman Joe Gatenby vs. the Kamloops Blazers
(Marissa Baecker)		   



Western Hockey League Stories from January 3, 2019


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