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| Kyle Topping faces older brother tonight - Shoot the Breeze Photography |
Tonight’s Preview: The Kelowna Rockets
are in their 27th year of existence since coming into the Western
Hockey League as an expansion franchise in 1991. After four seasons in Tacoma,
the team relocated to Kelowna in 1995-96, where the team has spent the last 22
years in the Okanagan. The team has four WHL championships (2003, 2005, 2009,
2015) and have missed the playoffs only once in their existence. The hockey
club has made four straight appearances in the Western Conference final and has
registered 40 or more wins in five consecutive seasons.
Rockets/Ams Showdown:
These
two teams are meeting for the first of four times this season. The Rockets make
a return trip November 1st or in 15 days. The Americans make two
stops in Kelowna on October 27th and again on January 3rd.
Last season the Rockets were 4-0-0-0, winning twice at Toyota Center by scores
of 4-1 and 3-2 in overtime. Kole Lind scored the game winner in OT. In the big
picture, the Rockets are 10 and 2 against the Americans in the last 12 regular
season meetings.
Porter enters record
books: Rookie
goaltender James Porter joined an elusive group by becoming only the third
American born goaltender in Kelowna Rockets franchises history to start a game.
Porter, from Bonners Ferry, Idaho joined Adam Brown (Yorba Linda, California)
and Mark Guggenberger (Richfield, Minnesota) when he started a game in Prince
George October 7/17. Porter became the youngest American born goaltender to win
a game in a Rockets uniform at 17 years, 5 months and 7 days, beating Adam
Brown, who won his first WHL game at 17 years, 11 months and 29 days. Brown
also beat Prince George for his first career victory October 11, 2008 in a 1-0
win.
Broadcasters Notebook:
After
tonight’s game, the Rockets will play four straight on home ice. The Rockets
host Portland in back-to-back games this Friday and Saturday before welcoming
Tri City October 27th and Prince George October 28th….Kyle
Topping is riding a three game goal scoring streak. Topping will face his older
brother Jordon tonight. The Topping brothers have the exact same number of
goals (5), assists (6), and points (11)….After opening up the scoring in the
first five games of the regular season, the opposition has opened the scoring
in three straight games…Kole Lind turned 19 yesterday…The Rockets boast one
first round NHL draft pick and two second rounders. Cal Foote was chosen 14th
overall by the Tampa Bay Lightning in June while Kole Lind (2nd
round (33rd) Canucks - 2017) and Dillon Dube (2nd round
(56th) Flames - 2016) were picked in the second round….Nolan Foote,
last season’s rookie of the year, is not eligible to be drafted until June
2019…Rookie Colum McGauley is the younger brother of former Brandon Wheat Kings
forward Tim McGauley. McGauley was a 1st round WHL bantam pick of
the Saskatoon Blades in 2010. Colum McGauley has six siblings, three brothers
and three sisters…Kole Lind has points in 8 of 9 games this season.
Milestones: Dillon Dube is 7
assists shy of 100 in his career…Kole Lind is 5 assists shy of 100 for his
career…Carsen Twarynski is 5 games shy of 200 for his career…Cal Foote played
in his 150th career game Friday in Portland…James Hilsendager has
played a team high 189th WHL regular season games.
Roster
Stats:
Player
total:
25
Year by
Year Breakdown:
20’s (1997) – 3 Ballhorn, Twarynski, Hilsendager
19’s (1998) - 4 Salmond, Lind, Dube, Cal Foote,
Chizen
18’s (1999) - 7 Topping, Mattson, Gardiner, Bruggen-Cate, Cowell, Porter, Skvrne
17’s (2000) - 9
Nolan Foote, Belcourt, Zabransky,
Kindree, Brennan, McGauley, Kushniryk, Pow, Hair
16’s (2001) - 1 Korczak
NHL
Drafted Players: Cal
Foote (Tampa Bay 2017), Kole Lind (Vancouver 2017), Dillon Dube (Calgary 2016),
Carsen Twarynski (Philadelphia 2016), Brayden Chizen (Minnesota 2016).
Game Notes Compiled by Regan Bartel of AM 1150
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