Tonight’s Preview: The Rockets and Hawks are meeting for the final time this season. The Rockets are 2-1-0-0 against the Hawks in three meeting, having out-scored them by a 12-9 margin. The Hawks have out-shot the Rockets 91-77 in the three games. The Hawks are average 30.3 shots per game while the Rockets are averaging 25.7 per game. The Rockets are 3/19 (15.8%) on the power in the seasonal series while Portland is 5/19 (26.3%) with the man advantage in three games. Chris Ray has scored three goals in three games against the Hawks. In the last meeting between these two teams, the Rockets were a 6-2 winner back on December 6th. Following tonight’s game the Rockets play three games in three night’s for the first time this season, with a game in Tri City Friday, home to Kamloops Saturday and in Vancouver Sunday. The Rockets have points in three of their last 6 games (1-3-2-0). The Rockets open a stretch of the schedule playing four of their next 8 games on home ice.
Seasonal Series Scoring vs. Hawks:
1 2 3 Total
Rockets: 4 5 3 = 12
Hawks: 3 2 4 = 9
Today in Rockets History: The Rockets have played five games on February 7th since moving the franchise from Tacoma to Kelowna. The Rockets are 3-2-0-0 in 5 games played on this date:
Feb 7/2004: Kelowna 0 Calgary 3: Barry Brust makes 22 saves for the shutout.
Feb 7/2003: Kelowna 5 Prince Albert 0: Kelly Guard made 22 saves in the shutout.
Feb 7/2001: Prince George 6 Kelowna 3: A five goal-third period leads the Cougars to the win.
Feb 7/1999: Kelowna 6 Portland 0: Kevin Swanson made 27 saves for the shutout.
Feb 7/1998: Kelowna 5 Tri City 1: Jason Deleurme scored twice, his 38th and 39th in the win.
Number Crunching: The Rockets have 13 players on their roster drafted in the WHL bantam draft, including five from 2005 and five from the 2004 draft…Remember Brent Howarth? The former Rocket has 40 goals this season with the Selkirk Steelers of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. Howarth has 106 points, good for second in league scoring, just 6 points back of his twin brother Kyle….The Hawks last win in Kelowna was September 24/05 in a 6-3 win. Brandon Dubinsky would score twice and would add two assists in the victory….Torrie Jung has just one WHL win in his rookie season. Who was it against? The Prince George Cougars. Jung made 27 saves in the victory. Jung made his WHL debut against the Portland Winter Hawks September 30th in a 5-2 loss…In the Rockets 14 wins this season the teams power play is 16.1% or 15 for 93…The Rockets have called up 16 year old Daniel Salamandyk to backup Torrie Jung tonight. Salamandyk is playing this season with the Okanagan midget Rockets…It was a spirited tilt between James McEwan and Garet Hunt in the first period of Saturday’s 2-0 win over the Vancouver Giants. After watching video, McEwan threw 47 punches in the fight…The Rockets have scored the fewest power play goals in the WHL this season (40). Saskatoon and Prince Albert are next in line with just 51 man advantage markers…Rockets have just one win in their last 11 road games (1-8-2-0)…The Rockets are 10-13-2-0 in 25 games against BC division opponents this season…The Rockets have been involved in 20 – one goal games this season. In those games the Rockets are 7-5-5-3…The Rockets have been held to a single goal 14 times this season, 7 times at home, 7 times on the road.
Time Ticking Down: With 19 games left in the regular season the Rockets have 10 games at home and 9 games on opposition ice. The Rockets have 11 games left against BC division opponents, 6 games against US division clubs and one against Central division foes.
Who’s Hot – Who’s Not: Chris Ray has just one point (1G) in his last 10 games. Ray is a -8 over that period. Luke Schenn has just 2 assists in his last 12 games. Justin Bernhardt has 3 assists in his last 4 games, yet hasn’t scored in 6 games. Myles MacRae has points in 8 of his last 14 games (5+4=9). Cody Almond has just one goal in his last 19 and has gone 16 games without a goal.
Upcoming Milestones:
James McEwan played in his 150th WHL game last Wednesday.
McEwan has 399 career penalty minutes – 1 shy of 400.
Justin Bernhardt played in his 150th game Saturday against Vancouver.
Clayton Barthel played in his 300th WHL game Jan 3/07 against the Tigers.
Chris Ray plays in game #245 tonight – 5 shy of 250.
David Schulz plays in career game #289 tonight – 11 shy of 300.
Luke Schenn played in career game # 100 Jan 5/07 in Kamloops.
Myles MacRae is playing in career game #100 tonight.
Rockets Age Breakdown:
20 year Olds – 3 – Barthel, Schulz, Ray
19 year Olds – 2 - McEwan, Westblom
18 year Olds – 4 – Bernhardt, Dowzak, Joe, MacRae
17 year Olds – 8 – MacDonald, Almond, Long, Schenn, L. Bloodoff, Breitkreuz, Brusciano, Jung 16 year Olds – 5 - McIntosh, Myers, E. Bloodoff, Hood, McMillan
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