Game Notes vs. Cougars

Tonight’s Preview: The Kelowna Rockets play their 70^th game of the season tonight when they host the Prince George Cougars. It is the eighth and final meeting of the season between their BC Division rivals. The Rockets are 6-1-0-0 in the first seven games, having out-scored PG 37-19. The Rockets claimed the BC Division regular season banner last Saturday in a 2-1 win over the Kamloops Blazers. The Rockets enter tonight’s game having won seven of their last eight games with victories over Kamloops (twice), Lethbridge, Victoria (three times) and Seattle. Overall, the Rockets have out-scored the opponent 35-16 in those eight games. The Rockets are 26-6-2-0 in their last 34 games. The Rockets have twelve regulation losses in their last 58 games (44-11-2-1). The Rockets have won 41 of their last 52 (39-10-3-0) games overall. The Rockets are in Vancouver tomorrow night before hosting the Giants on Saturday.

Seasonal Series Scoring:
Period        1      2    3   Total
Rockets:   11   17    9     37
Cougars:    7     9    3     19

*The Rockets have scored the opening goal of the game in six of the seven games. The Rockets have out-shot the Cougars in four of the seven games in the seasonal series.  The Rockets power play is 8 for 23 (35%) while the Cougars are 5 for 30 (17%) with the extra man. 

Most Wins in Franchise History:
2002-2003: 51 – WHL Champions
2012-2013: 49 - ?
2008-2009: 47 – WHL Champions
2003-2004: 47 – Memorial Cup Champions
2005-2006: 46 – Eliminated 2^nd round
2004-2005: 45 – WHL Champions
1992-1993: 45 – Eliminated in 7 games in rd one

100 Points Club: The Rockets have 102 points. It is the first time in seven seasons the team has hit that 100 point mark. The last time the Rockets registered 100 points was 2004-2005 when they managed 104 points. The Rockets franchise has reached 100 or more points only three times. (2012-2013, 2004-2005, 2002-2003).            

Home Cook’n: The Kelowna Rockets have lost a league low five times on home ice (29-5-0-0) this season. The team has scored 161 goals (4.8 per game) and has allowed 67 goals against (2.00 per game).  The Rockets have scored at least 3 or more goals in every home game this season except three, all against the Kamloops Blazers and once to the Portland Winterhawks (5-1). The Rockets have scored four or more goals in 24 of their 34 home games. Jordon Cooke and Jackson Whistle have combined for six home ice shutouts this season. The team has allowed two or fewer goals at home this season in 23 of 34 games.

This and That: Rockets alumnus Lucas Bloodoff was named the CIS player of the year in men’s hockey last night in a ceremony in Saskaton. Bloodoff plays with the Saint Mary’s Huskies… The Rockets are rated as the 5^th best team in the country in this week’s CHL Top 10 junior rankings…The Rockets have 17 players that have scored at least one game winning goal this season….The Rockets have played in 19 – one goal games this season. The Rockets are 10-5-3-1 in those games…The Rockets have been shut out three times this season by Kamloops, Portland and Spokane. All three have happened on the road…. Ryan Olsen played in his 200^th career March 8^th in Kamloops…Cody Fowlie played in his 200^th career game February 28^th against Seattle.…The Rockets were 7-5-0-0 in February….Myles Bell was the leading point getter in February with 6+11=17….The Rockets have scored 293 goals this season. The team record for goals in a season is 338 set back in 1995-96.….Rockets Myles Bell has 89 points, becoming the first Rockets player since Colin Long (91) in 2008-2009 to register 80 or more points in a season. ….The Rockets have hit the 40 win plateau for the 9^th time in franchise history…The Rockets have made the playoffs for the 17^th time in the franchises 18 year history….The Rockets 23 game home ice winning streak was the third longest winning streak on home ice in WHL history. It was snapped February 8th in a 5-3 loss to Portland….Dylen McKinlay is the only Rocket to play in every game this season…The Rockets have led going into the third period in 43 of their last 58 games with four games being tied heading into the final frame.…The Rockets have out-scored the opposition 152-65 on home ice this season….Dylen McKinlay has six shorthanded goals…Since relocating from Tacoma to Kelowna for the start of the 1995-96 season, the Rockets have picked up 675 wins over the last 18 seasons…Since entering the WHL in 1991, the Tacoma/Kelowna Rockets have scored 4 thousand 621 goals (4,621)…The Rockets have participated in two shootout game this season. That is a league low. Last season the Rockets were involved in a league high 15…Since November 1^st the Rockets have lost nine times in regulation…Five of the teams thirteen regulation losses came in the first five weeks of the season…JT Barnett played in his 250^th career game February 8^th against Portland…Tyrell Goulbourne has 19 fighting majors this season…Zach Franko played in his 200th career game February 14^th against Everett.….Ryan Olsen is the first 18 year-old forward since Jamie Benn to score over 30 goals in a Rockets uniform. Benn scored 33 times in 2007-2008…The Rockets have 29 home ice wins. The 2002-03 team had 31 home ice victories.