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Game Day Preview: The Kelowna Rockets
face the Seattle Thunderbirds for the fourth and final time this season. The
Rockets are 1-2-0-0 in the seasonal series with 4-1 and 9-6 losses and a 3-1
win in Seattle back on November 9th. Kyle Topping has 2+5=7 in the
three games while Leif Mattson has 2+3=5. Roman Basran has seen action in all
three games, posting a 1-2-0-0 record with a goals against average of 3.69 and
a save percentage of .890. The Rockets power play is 4 for 12 (33.3%) vs. the
T-Birds. Of the 24 goals scored between the two teams in the three games, 11
have been on the power play. Following tonight’s game the Rockets are in
Spokane Friday for the first of four meetings between the only team they have
failed to play this season. The Rockets return home to host the Kamloops
Blazers Saturday night. The Rockets are coming off a 4-3 shootout win in
Vancouver Sunday night. Kyle Topping had two goals while Leif Mattson has three
assists. Mattson was named the first star after scoring the lone goal in the
shootout. Overall, the Rockets are 4-7-1-1 in 13 games since the Christmas
break. The Rockets are 16-14-3-1 in 34 games under head coach Adam Foote.
Who’s Hot: Kyle Topping has
6+8=14 in his last 12 games…Nolan Foote has 6+6=12 in his last 10 games….Lassi
Thomson has 4+3=7 in his last 10 games…The Rockets penalty killing unit is 43
for 53 in their last 12 road games…The Rockets have points in 11 of their last
15 home games (9-4-2-0).
Broadcasters Notebook: Trevor Wong is back
with the Rockets this evening. The 15 year-old will suit up for his second game
in the WHL after making his debut October 27th against Prince George. Wong was
the Rockets first round pick (18th) in the 2018 WHL bantam
draft….The Rockets have 20 games left in the regular season. Of those 20, 12
are against teams in the BC Division…The team will play three games in three
nights March 1st, 2nd and 3rd…..The team has
been out-shot in 11 of the last 12 games…The Rockets are 5-7-0-0 in 12 games
against a US Division team this season. Three of the four wins have come
against Tri City with a single victory over Everett and Seattle…The team plays
8 more games against US Division rivals with four games against Spokane, two
with Portland and a single against Everett and Seattle.…The Rockets have played
14-one goal games at home this season. Last year they played 15-one goal games
at Prospera Place…The team has played in nine-one goal games on the road…The
Rockets are 8-12-2-1 against BC Division teams this season…Five members of the
Kelowna Rockets have made NHL Central Scouting’s latest rankings. Lassi Thomson
is rated 14th, Nolan Foote is ranked 26th and Kaedan
Korczak is 31st. Kyle Topping is 195th while Alex Swetlikoff is 217th,
Among goalies, Roman Basran is 11th among North American netminders…..Adam
Foote was officially named the new head coach of the Kelowna Rockets on October
23, 2018 replacing Jason Smith.,,The Rockets are 7-11-1-0 when playing the
second game of back-to-backs.
New Boys on Blue
Line: The
team acquired 20 year-old Shael Higson from the Brandon Wheat Kings for 20
year-old Braydyn Chizen and a 5th round bantam pick. The team then
claimed 20 year-old defenceman Matt Barberis off waivers from the Vancouver
Giants. To make room for Barberis, the team released overage forward Lane
Zablocki, who is now with the BCHL’s Vernon Vipers.
Season Highs/Lows:
Most goals scored: 8 @ Victoria October
19/18 (8-2 W)
Most goals allowed: 9 vs. Seattle October
10th, 2018 (9-6 L)
Most shots on net: 45 @ Seattle October
6th, 2018 (4-1 L).
Fewest shots on net: 13 @ Edmonton
November 17, 2018 (3-1 L)
Most shots allowed: 50 @ Portland
November 10, 2018 (3-0 L)
Fewest shots allowed:
16 vs. Victoria December 7, 2018 (2-0 win)
Last time shut out at
home: October
3rd, 2018 vs. Vancouver (5-0 L)
Last time shut out on
road: November
10, 2018 @ Portland (3-0 L)
Last shutout at home:
December
7, 2018 vs. Victoria (2-0 W - Roman Basran 16 saves)
Last shutout on the
road: January
18, 2019 @ Everett (2-0 W – James Porter 40 saves)
Most power play goals
allowed: 4
vs. Seattle October 10th, 2018 (9-6 L). T-Birds were 4/5 on power
play.
Most power play goals
scored:
4 @ Victoria October 19, 2018 (8-2 W)
Overtime Games: @ Kamloops (3-2 Loss) December 28, 2018, vs. Saskatoon (5-4 Loss)
December 1, 2018, @ Tri City Nov 30, 2018 (3-2 win), @ PG (4-3 Loss) November
14, 2018, vs. PG (4-3 win) October 27, 2018.
Game Notes Compiled by Regan Bartel of AM
1150
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