Tonight’s Preview: The Rockets and Tips are meeting for the first of just four times this season. The Rockets host the Tips October 19th before the Rockets return again to Everett November 16th. The two teams close out the seasonal series January 30th in Kelowna. Last season the Rockets were 1-2-0-1 against the Tips, and were out-scored 12-7 in those four games. The Rockets were a 2-0 winner over the Tips December 8th at Prospera Place, but suffered back-to-back 4-1 setbacks in the season series. In the only other match-up, the Rockets were a 4-3 loser in a shootout. It took 15 shooters before the Tips scored the game winner on Rockets goaltender Torrie Jung. The Rockets are coming off a 2-1 home ice loss to the Vancouver Giants Wednesday. The two teams were scoreless after 40 minutes, before Cody Almond scored his first goal of the season just three minutes into the final frame to give the Rockets a 1-0 lead. But the Giants received back-to-back goals from Evander Kane and James Wright in the one goal win.
Earning a Point in Everett Isn’t Easy: The Rockets failed to win a game in Everett last season. In fact the Rockets last regulation win in Everett was October 2, 2005 in a 3-1 win. Since the Tips broke into the league in 2003, the Rockets are just 2-5-0-1 in 8 regular season games in the arena formerly known as the Everett Events Centre.
Taking the Show on the Road: The Rockets open a portion of their schedule playing four of the next five games on the road. The only home game over that stretch is next Friday against the Seattle Thunder Birds. In the big picture, the Rockets play 14 of their next 23 games on the road. The Rockets are in Everett tonight, travel to Vancouver tomorrow night before returning home to face Seattle. Then the Rockets make stops in Seattle and Vancouver Thanksgiving weekend.
Quick Facts: Kristofer Westblom has started the first two games of the season in goal for the Rockets…In the teams first two games, the Rockets have led or have been tied going into the third period. The Rockets were up 4-2 heading into the third period against Tri City, and were up 1-0 just three minutes in the third period against the Giants…The Rockets have scored two of their 6 goals this season on the power play. Overall the Rockets are 2 for 7 with the man advantage this season, or 28.6 percent…Last season the Rockets were 0 and 2 after two games and 0-3 after three games…Lyon Messier is the son of NHL great Mark Messier. Mark Messier was in attendance to see his son Wednesday in Kelowna’s 2-1 loss to the Giants. The ‘Moose’ will be in attendance at tonight’s game in Everett and tomorrow night’s game in Vancouver…Rookie forward Milan Kytnar won’t play tonight as the team has not yet received his U.S visa. Kytnar will play Saturday against the Giants though.
Tough Schedule to Start Season: The Rockets open a portion of their schedule playing teams that are predicted to challenge for a division title this season. In the teams next 11 games, they face Vancouver three times, Everett, Spokane and Seattle twice, and Kamloops and Calgary once.
Tonight’s Notables: Tysen Dowzak played in his 100th WHL game Wednesday night. Cody Almond is 7 games shy of 100 for his career. Colin Joe has the most games under his belt of anyone in the Rockets lineup. Joe has played 180 games, but is out with a wrist injury. James McEwan is a close second with 173 games in the WHL, and enters tonight’s game with 454 career penalty minutes. Justin Bernhardt is playing in career game 172 tonight. Bernhardt has 94 career points.
Pre-Season Highlights: The Rockets record was 2 and 5 during the exhibition schedule with wins over Chilliwack (3-0) and Vancouver (6-3). The Rockets suffered losses to Edmonton (4-3), Swift Current (6-1), Regina (3-2) and Kamloops (3-1). The Rockets also were shutout 2-0 by the Vancouver Giants.
Taste of the NHL: The Rockets had 4 players attend an NHL camp this fall. Cody Almond attended the camp of the Minnesota Wild after being drafted in the 5th round. Torrie Jung attended the Tampa Bay Lightning camp after being drafted this summer in the 7th round. Milan Kytnar was in Edmonton after the Oilers selected him in the 5th round. Rockets defenseman Tysen Dowzak received a free-agent tryout with Philadelphia.
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