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WHL Kelowna Rockets

Rockets Have Chance To Advance Tonight In Wenatchee

April 5, 2024 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kelowna Rockets News Release


Kelowna Rockets goaltender Jari Kykkanen mans the pipes
Kelowna Rockets goaltender Jari Kykkanen mans the pipes
(Kelowna Rockets, Credit: Steve Dunsmoor)

The Kelowna Rockets will have the chance to close out their opening round series with the Wenatchee Wild on Friday night when they hit the ice on the road. After winning their last three games, the Rockets hold a 3-1 lead in the best of seven series.

After falling 8-6 in the opening game of the series, the Rockets have limited the Wild to just one goal in each of the last three games.

"I think we just need to keep it simple when we go down to Wenatchee [for game five]," said Rockets veteran forward Max Graham in an interview with kelownarockets.com prior to departing on Wednesday. "They've got their back against the wall, their season is on the line. I think we've just got to go in there and play hard, play simple, stick to the structure and and I think that's what will bring us success."

The Rockets have not made it past the first round since the 2016-17 season, where they eliminated Kamloops in the opening round before taking out Portland in round two and then falling in the Western Conference final to the eventual WHL Champion Seattle Thunderbirds.

Graham has been a part of the Rockets last two first round exits against the Seattle Thunderbirds. Last season they fell in four games to Seattle, while the year before they made it a five game series.

"It's really nice to be a team coming in that can move onto the next series instead of being down and the other team has got three [wins]", said Graham. "It's a good feeling, quite a few guys in the room know how it feels to have your back against the wall. Elimination games are normally when the teams show their best, so we know Wenatchee is going to be ready, they're going to be pushing hard."

The Wild, formally the Winnipeg ICE made it to the WHL Final last season where they fell to the Seattle Thunderbirds. Eight of the players on their roster dressed in at least one game last year during Winnipeg's run to the championship.

"They've got a lot of guys who have played extended playoff hockey," said Kris Mallette in his postgame interview follow game four last night. "They know what it takes, we've gotta be ready for a war for sixty minutes. Play a structured, boring hockey game, capitalize on our chances and stay disciplined."

A look at the series with Wenatchee

G1 - March 29, 2024 - Kelowna 6 at Wenatchee 8

G2 - March 30, 2024 - Kelowna 3 at Wenatchee 1

G3 - April 2, 2024 - Wenatchee 1 at Kelowna 5

G4 - April 3, 2024 - Wenatchee 1 at Kelowna 3

G5 - Apr. 5, 2024 - Kelowna at Wenatchee

G6 - Apr. 7, 2024 - Wenatchee at Kelowna *if necessary*

G7 - Apr. 9, 2024 - Kelowna at Wenatchee *if necessary*

If the Rockets are unable to close out the series on Friday, a game six would take place at Prospera Place on Sunday at 2:05 pm. Tickets for that potential game are not available until the result of Friday's game is determined.

ROCKETS ROSTER UPDATES

Injury updates are not provided in the playoffs

REGULAR SEASON RECORD

vs Wenatchee

September 30, 2023- Wenatchee 3, Kelowna 5

October 28, 2023- Kelowna 0, Wenatchee 4

November 29, 2023- Wenatchee 4, Kelowna 5 (OT)

January 6, 2024- Kelowna 3, Wenatchee 6

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 on 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 web using Safari or Google Chrome web browsers. Visit watch.chl.ca for complete details and subscription options.

Check out the Kelowna Rockets Statistics




Images from this story

Kelowna Rockets goaltender Jari Kykkanen mans the pipes
Kelowna Rockets goaltender Jari Kykkanen mans the pipes
(Steve Dunsmoor)		   



Western Hockey League Stories from April 5, 2024


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