Tonight’s Preview: The
Kelowna Rockets have won nine of their last ten games heading into a date with
the Everett Silvertips. The Rockets are 3-0-0-0 in the seasonal series against
the Tips, having out-scored their U.S Division rivals 15-7. These two teams
last met January 22nd with the Rockets earning a 6-3 win. The
Rockets last visited Everett on October 2nd and recorded a 6-3 win.
Nick Merkley and Madison Bowey each scored twice in the teams’ third win of the
season. The Rockets have won 4 straight after a 3-1 victory Saturday night in
Vancouver. Marek Tvrdon scored the game winner on the power play in the second
period as the Rockets scored the final three goals of the game. Following
tonight’s game the Rockets host Spokane tomorrow night before welcoming Tri
City on Saturday.
Racing for a Record: The
Kelowna Rockets are trying to set a franchise record for the most wins in a
season. The current mark is held by this year’s team and last year’s, which won
52 times. Here are the top records:
2013-2014: 52 wins
2012-2013:
52 wins
2002-2003:
51 wins
2008-2009:
47 wins
2003-2004:
47 wins
The facts on 1st
place: The
Rockets lead the Portland Winterhawks by 9 points for first place in the WHL
standings. The Rockets have 7 games
left while the Winterhawks also have seven. Portland plays five of its’ final 7
games on home ice. Of those seven games, three are against arch rival Seattle. Five
of the Rockets last 7 games are against teams in the BC Division. The Rockets magic number for claiming the WHL
regular season title is 3.5. Any combination of Rockets wins and Winterhawks
losses adding up to 3.5 will give the hockey club its first WHL regular season
championship since 2002-2003.
Who’s Hot: Nick
Merkley has points in ten of his last eleven games. The 16 year-old has 8+6=14 over
that period. Marek Tvrdon has 15 points in his last eleven
games (6+9=15). Damon Severson has
points in twelve of his last 15 games…Myles Bell has 20 goals in his last 27 games….The
Rockets are 45-5-0-4 in their last 54 home games dating back to last season.
Rourke Chartier has 4+8=12 in his last 9 games…Chartier has 30 points in his
last 29 games.
This and That: At this
point last season the team was 46-15-3-1 after 65 games…The Rockets can set a
new franchise record for points in a season. The Rockets have 108 points while
the team record is 109 points set by the 2002-2003 team…After 65 games last
season the team had scored 285 goals. This year after 65 games the team has
scored 282 times….The team has surrendered 164 goals this season. At this point
last season the Rockets had allowed 166 goals against…For the first time in
franchise history the Kelowna Rockets are enjoying back-to-back 50 wins seasons….With
three road games left in the regular season the hockey club can set a new WHL
record for road wins if they win all three games. The Rockets have 27 road wins
while the league record is 29 wins on opposition ice. …Myles Bell became the first player since
Geordie Wudrick to score 40 or more goals in a season. Wudrick had 43 in
2010-2011….The Rockets have six more wins on the road than the 21 they had all
of last season…Of Myles Bell’s 41 goals this season, 22 have been scored on the
road with 19 coming on home ice…The Rockets are 9-5-0-0 in their last 14 road
games…The Rockets are 7-1-0-2 in their last 10 home games and have won five
straight…The Rockets are 19-4-0-2 since the WHL trade deadline.…The Rockets
have been involved in 10-one goal games on home ice this season…Cole Martin is
+104 over the last two seasons…The Rockets have 7 games left in the regular
season. Four are on home ice with three on the road…The Rockets have scored six
or more goals eleven times on home ice this season… The Rockets are 16-4-0-0 in
the second game when facing back-to-back scenarios this season….The team has
been rated as the best team in the CHL according to the Top 10 junior rankings
for a 9th consecutive week….After losing two of his first three games, Jackson Whistle has won fifteen
of his last sixteen games and is riding a personal 8 game winning streak….The
Rockets have played in 9 shootout games this season and are 5 and 4. Four of
the five shootout wins have come on the road in Tri City, Victoria, Prince
George and Seattle…Jordon Cooke is 43-6-0-3 at home in last 52 starts at home
dating back to last season…The Rockets have scored 4 or more goals in 24 of
their 34 road games this season…In 7 of the Rockets 9 regulation losses this
season, leading scorer Myles Bell has failed to score.
1 comment:
Enjoy your blog and just wanted to comment about your milestone 1000th game! Heard you modestly state on the radio this morning that you enjoy your small role with the Rockets. I think your role is very significant and one of the key reasons this city is so proud and aware of this fine hockey organization! Your skill and enthusiasm breathes life into every game. When the team is on the road, I feel like I am in the rink supporting the 'boys'. The amount of work you, and Gord, do to prepare and ultimately present each game does not go un-noticed and sure is appreciated by us local fans! So...congratulations on 1000 games and thank you so much for being, hands down, the best CHL play-by-play announcer!
Doug Gray
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