WHL Kelowna Rockets

Rockets Return Home to Face Pats

November 20, 2018 - Western Hockey League (WHL)
Kelowna Rockets News Release


Kelowna Rockets lineup
Kelowna Rockets lineup
(Kelowna Rockets, Credit: Marissa Baecker)

The Rockets will play their first home game at Prospera place since Saturday, November 3 tomorrow when they host the Regina Pats for Hat Trick Wednesday.

Kelowna is looking to start another win streak; they defeated the Edmonton Oil Kings this past Saturday at Rogers Place 3-1. Rockets forward Erik Gardiner says that the team is excited to play at home in front of their fans again after a long time away from home.

"We're really excited, it was a long road trip for us," said Gardiner "I'm excited to be back at home, I think we all are. It will be fun for us to play at home in front of the fans. The trip was good for team bonding, we had some tough games and got through those together. We also had a few days off in Prince George and Edmonton, so we got to do some fun things and got closer as a team. I think that the road trip has really helped us, and will pay off in the long run."

Gardiner is also a former Regina Pat, the Rockets acquired him in a trade back on November 30, 2016. He says that he still knows a few players on the team, but it will be all business once they hit the ice.

"This is my first time playing them, I was hurt last season," said Gardiner. "I have a lot of close friends on the team, but I'll put that away once the puck drops. I'm excited to play against them, hopefully, I can play well."

Wednesday's game will be the only time that the two faceoff against one another this season. Last season they also saw each other only once, the Kelowna Rockets took that game 7-5 at the Brandt Centre on December 8, 2017.

Kelowna heads into Wednesday nights contest with a record of 9-13-1-0 and 19 points, they currently sit fourth in the B.C. Division. The Rockets are one point ahead of the fifth-place Kamloops Blazers, two points behind the third place Prince George Cougars and five points back of the second place Victoria Royals. They trail the division-leading Vancouver Giants by 11 points, the Giants own a record of 14-6-2-0.

The Pats will play the Kamloops Blazers tonight before tomorrow's game against Kelowna. As of today, their record is 7-15-0-0, they sit fifth in the East Division with 14 points. Regina is six points ahead of the sixth-place Swift Current Broncos, ten points back of the fourth place Moose Jaw Warriors, 12 points behind the Brandon Wheat Kings and 16 points behind the second place Saskatoon Blades. They're 26 points back of the division-leading Prince Albert Raiders who have a 20-1-0-0 record

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

Check out the Kelowna Rockets Statistics




Images from this story

Kelowna Rockets lineup
Kelowna Rockets lineup
(Marissa Baecker)		   



Western Hockey League Stories from November 20, 2018


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