Tonight’s
Preview: The
Kelowna Rockets face the Kamloops Blazers in a home and home series this
weekend. The Rockets host the Blazers tomorrow night. These two teams met in a
home and home series to open the regular season on September 20th
and 21st with the Rockets winning both games by 5-2 scores. Since
those two games, Kelowna has won 16 more times while the Blazers have lost 16
more games. Following this weekend series, the two teams meet again December 27th
at Prospera Place in the first game for both following the Christmas break. The
Rockets are coming off a 4-1 win in Tri City last Friday night. Overall, the
team has won 6 straight games on the road, having out-scored the opposition
27-13. In four of those six road games the Rockets have allowed a single goal.
Kamloops, Calgary and Saskatoon owned 8 game road winning streaks last season –
the longest in the WHL. The Rockets won 7 straight road games back in the
2010-2011 campaign between February 23rd and March 18th. Overall,
the team has won 10 of their last 11 games. Next week the Rockets host
Vancouver Tuesday, Everett on Friday and Kootenay on Saturday December 7th.
Severson/Bowey
battle Russians: Defencemen Madison Bowey and Damon Severson
return to the lineup tonight after participating in both games for Team WHL at
the Subway Super Series. Bowey picked up an assist in the two games against the
Russians while Severson, who was named assistant captain in last night’s 4-2
WHL win, was held off the score sheet. Rockets GM Bruce Hamilton is heavily
involved with Hockey Canada’s management group.
This
and That:
The Rockets begin a portion of their schedule where they will play 11 games
before the Christmas break. Those 11 games will be played in 20 days….In the
first two periods of their last two games, the Rockets have allowed a combined
19 shots on goal….The Rockets have played in five shootout games this season
and are 3 and 2. All three shootout wins have come on the road in Victoria,
Prince George and Seattle…Dating back to last season the Rockets are 17-3-0-0
in the month of November. This season they are 8-1-0-0 while last November they
were 9-2-0-0….Three members of the Rockets have been named to NHL Central
Scouting’s ‘Watch List’ of the eligible players for this summer’s NHL draft in
Philadelphia. Justin Kirkland, Tyson Baillie and Riley Stadel have made that
list….The Rockets are rated as the third best team in Canada according to this
week’s CHL Top 10 junior rankings. Last week the Rockets were also rated
third…Eighteen year-old Madison Bowey was named captain of the Kelowna Rockets
November 1st….Jordon Cooke was named WHL Goaltender of the Month for
September/October. Cooke was 8-0-0-2 with a goals against average of 1.85…Sixteen
year-old rookie forward Nick Merkley was named the CHL and WHL Player of the
Week from September 30th to October 6th. Merkley had six
points in three games including back-to-back two goal games before earning two
assists in a 6-3 win over the Portland Winterhawks. Merkley was the Kelowna
Rockets first round pick from the 2012 WHL Bantam Draft…Assistant Coach Dan
Lambert has been named the head coach for Team West for the World Under 17
Challenge in Cape Breton Nova Scotia December 28-January 5th….. Jordon
Cooke is 31-4-0-2 at home in last 37 starts at home dating back to last season…Two
members of the Rockets were named to Team Pacific for the upcoming Under 17
World Hockey Challenge in late December in Nova Scotia. Nick Merkley and Joe
Gatenby have been added to the roster. Gatenby was the team’s second round pick
in 2012…Ryan Olsen had 6 goals after 11 games last season…Olsen’s best month
for scoring goals last season was in November and again in January when he
struck eight times. Half of his goal total of 32 came in those two months.
Who’s
Hot:
Madison Bowey has 8+9=17 in his last 17 games….Ryan Olsen has 6+10=16 in his
last 16 games and has points in nine of his last thirteen..Damon Severson has
2+8=10 in his last nine games…The Rockets have allowed the fewest goals while
playing shorthanded in the WHL (12).
Milestone
Makers:
Severson has 99
career assists – 1 shy of 100.
Madison Bowey played in
his 150th career last Wednesday.
Colton Heffley is
playing in his 194th career game tonight – 6 shy of 200.
Cole Martin is a +59
over his career. He leads the team with a +21 rating this season.
Nick Merkley has
2+7=9 in his last 10 games.
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