Tonight’s Preview: The
Kelowna Rockets play back-to-back games on the Island this weekend against the
Victoria Royals. These two teams met last Friday in Kelowna with the Rockets
earning a 7-3 win. This is the fifth of eight meetings between the two teams this
season. Yep, that’s right! These two BC Division rivals will face each other
three more times after this evening. The Rockets visit the Royals again
tomorrow night before the final two games are played at Prospera Place on
February 25th and March 11th. The Rockets are 3-0-1-0 in
the first four games after a 4-3 overtime loss and a 5-3 win (Both in Victoria
in November) and a 5-1 win (November 5th) and a 7-3 victory as
mentioned last Friday. The Rockets are 17-4-0-1 since the Christmas break. Nine
of the team’s 12 games in February are against BC Division rivals. Overall, the
Rockets have points in twelve of their last thirteen games (11-1-0-1).
200 Point Club: Nineteen
year-old Tyson Baillie recorded his 200th career point Saturday
against the Moose Jaw Warriors. Baillie’s four points now gives him 202 in his
four year career. Ready to join Baillie in the ‘200 Point Club’ is Josh
Morrissey, who has 194 career points. Leon Draisaitl has 193 career points
heading into tonight’s game against the Royals.
Dare to Compare: The Rockets
have a record of 45-9-3-1 this season, good for 94 points. After 58 games last
season the team was 46-8-0-4, which was good for 96 points. The team has scored
262 goals this season. At the same time last year after 58 games, 250 goals
were scored and 150 goals were given up. This season the team has surrendered 145
goals against.
Hot to Trot: Rourke
Chartier has goals in five of his last eight games. Gage Quinney has points in
six of his last eight games. The 19 year-old had four goals and five assists (4+5=9)
over that period. Tyson Baillie has a six game point streak with four goals and
nine assists (4+9=13). Defenceman Josh Morrissey has a nine game point streak
with (5+5=10)…Leon Draisaitl has thirteen points (2+11=13) in his last six
games. In the 18 games Draisaitl has played, the 19 year-old has been held off
the score-sheet four times.
Another 40 win season:
The
Kelowna Rockets have won 40 games for the 11th time in franchise
history. Here is the breakdown of 40 win
seasons:
2014-2015:
45 wins and counting
2013-2014:
57 wins 2004-2005: 45 wins
2012-2013:
52 wins 2003-2004: 47 wins
2010-2011:
43 wins 2002-2003: 51 wins
2008-2009:
47 wins 1994-1995: 43 wins (Tacoma)
2005-2006:
46 wins 1992-1993: 45 wins (Tacoma)
This and That: Rourke
Chartier is 4 goals shy of 50 this season. The last Rockets player to score 50
goals was Justin Keller during the 2005-2006 season. Keller scored 51 times
that year….During this seven game home ice winning streak, the Rockets have
out-scored the opposition 48-18…Jackson Whistle has missed six games after
having appendix surgery on February 6th. The Rockets are 5-1-0-0 in
those games with Jake Morrissey winning four of the five games. Whistle is
skating and could return as early as this Wednesday…Rourke Chartier has points
in 12 of his last 14 games…Riley Stadel has 2+13=15 in his last 14 games and
has a goal and five assists in his last three games playing as a forward…Stadel
has a career high 37 points this season…Madison Bowey has 1+6=7 in his last
six games….Justin Kirkland has points in
nine of his last eleven games…The Rockets have been held to just one goal five
times this season. Seattle (road), Edmonton (road), Calgary (road) Regina
(home) and Prince Albert (home) have turned the trick against the highest
scoring team in the Western Conference...The Kelowna Rockets have scored the
second goals on the road (126) in the WHL this season…The Rockets have lost
only three times in regulation time on the road this season. Those three losses
came in Seattle, Tri City and Calgary...The Rockets have points in 9 of their
last 10 road games (8-1-0-1)….The Rockets are 52-10-2-1 on opposition ice in
the last two seasons….The Tri City Herald ‘Best of the West’ poll was released
this week. Bruce Hamilton was named the top executive. Madison Bowey was voted
as having hardest shot. Tyrell Goulbourne was named the toughest player. Nick
Merkley was named the best pro prospect. Rourke Chartier was named the most improved
player. The winners were voted upon by coaches, players and media from across
the Western Conference…Leon Draisaitl is the WHL POW. The 19 year-old had 2+7=9
in four games last week…The CHL announced that Kelowna will host a Subway Super
Series game on November 9/15. Kelowna last hosted a game in 2009.
Three Star Balloting:
*Other first star
winners are: Leon Draisaitl (five), Tyrell Goulbourne (twice) and Cole Martin,
Dillon Dube, Tomas Soustal and Justin Kirkland once each.
Player: 1st Star 2nd Star 3rd Star Total
Rourke Chartier: 6 7 2 15
Jackson Whistle: 7 4 2 13
Nick Merkley: 5 2 6 13
Tyson Baillie: 4 6 3 13
Madison Bowey: 2 3 3 8
No comments:
Post a Comment