Tonight’s Preview: The Kelowna Rockets
wrap up a four game home stand tonight against the visiting Tri City Americans.
This is the first of four games between the two teams this season. The
Americans make a return visit on March 4th before the Rockets make
two separate visits to Kennewick on November 30th and December 9th.
Last season, these two teams met four times with the Rockets winning three of
the four games. The Rockets were a 4-2 and 7-5 winner at Prospera Place and split
a pair of games at Toyota Center, winning 3-1 and losing 6-4. The Rockets are
coming off a 4-3 overtime win Wednesday night over the Everett Silvertips.
Lucas Johansen scored the game winning goal. Nolan Foote, Devante Stephens and
Rodney Southam, all with their first goals of the season, helped the Rockets
snap a three game losing streak. The Rockets are in a stretch of playing five
of their next six games against a U.S based team. The Rockets visit the Seattle
Thunderbirds tomorrow night. The team travels for two games to Portland, Oregon
on October 29th and 30th.
Hockey Canada Calls: Three members of the
Kelowna Rockets will represent the WHL and Hockey Canada, at the CHL
Canada-Russia series. Team WHL, who’s roster consists of Nick Merkley, Dillon
Dube and Cal Foote, will compete against the Russian Selects in games November
7th in Prince George and November 8th in Edmonton. The
Rockets
Let’s make a Deal: A rare trade between
the Kelowna Rockets and Spokane Chiefs was consummated on Monday. The Rockets
traded 19 year-old Tanner Wishnowski to the Chiefs for 16 year-old prospect Colum
McGauley. McGauley, a 4th round pick of the Chiefs, is playing this
season with the Nelson Leafs. It is the first trade between the two
organizations in 12 years. The last one was in 2004.
Milestone Makers: Nick Merkley has
played 188 WHL regular season games….Jake Kryski is 5 games shy of 150 games in
his career…16 year-old Nolan Foote earned his first career point with an assist
Friday against the Saskatoon Blades....Riley Stadel has 40 career WHL fights (1
at Memorial Cup). Rodney Southam has 29…Nick Merkley is two points shy of 200
for his WHL career.
Broadcasters Bits: The team reduced its roster
last Tuesday by releasing 19 year-old forward Tate Coughlin. Originally listed
by the team, Coughlin played 107 games with the Rockets…Sixteen year-old Nolan Foote is one of 66 players participating in
the 2016 Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario October 27th
to November 5th ....The Rockets have acquired 17 year-old forward
Leif Mattson from the Brandon Wheat Kings for a 9th round bantam
pick. Mattson, from Thompson, Manitoba, was the Wheat Kings 8th round selection
in 2014…Nick Merkley is three points
shy of 200 for his career…The Rockets lead the WHL in penalty minutes with 212….The
Rockets have been shorthanded a league high 63 times….Nine members of the
Rockets participated in NHL training camps. Tomas Soustal and Gordie Ballhorn
earned tryouts with Edmonton and Dallas respectively. Nick Merkley (Arizona),
Lucas Johansen (Washington), Dillon Dube (Calgary), Devante Stephens (Buffalo),
Calvin Thurkauf (Columbus), Braydyn Chizen (Minnesota) and Justin Kirkland (Nashville)
are all drafted players.
Three Identified by
NHLCS: Three
members of the Kelowna Rockets have been named to NHL Central Scouting’s
‘Player’s to Watch List’. Defenceman Cal Foote is an ‘A’ prospect. Kole Lind is
a ‘B’ prospect while defenceman Jonathan Smart is a ‘C’ prospect. The NHL draft
is this June in Chicago. Foote’s father, Adam, was a second round pick of the
Quebec Nordiques (22nd overall) in 1989. Adam Foote played his
junior hockey with the Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds.
Roster
Stats:
Player
total:
23
Year by
Year Breakdown:
20’s – 3 Stadel, Herringer, Southam
19’s – 6 Johansen, Merkley, Soustal, Stephens, Ballhorn
18’s – 7
Dube, Kryski, Lind, Borstmayer, Chizen, Salmond, Thurkauf
17’s - 6 C.
Foote, Topping, Bruggen-Cate, Cowell, Smart, Mattson
16’s – 2
N. Foote, Belcourt
Game Notes Compiled by Regan Bartel of AM 1150
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