Salmond faces former teammates

Ex-Rockets goalie Brodan Salmond with the Warriors

Game Day Preview: The Kelowna Rockets meet the Moose Jaw Warriors for the one and only time this season. These two teams last season in Moose Jaw (December 12, 2017) with the Warriors earning a 6-3 win. The Rockets had a 3-1 lead heading into the third period before the Warriors scored five straight-third period goals in the win. The last time the Warriors were in Kelowna was January 18, 2017 in a 3-2 overtime victory. Brayden Burke scored the game winner at the 3:05 mark. Nick Merkley and Calvin Thurkauf scored in the setback. The Rockets are coming off back-to-back losses in Prince George on the weekend and were out-scored 11-2. The team lost 7-2 (Friday) and 4-0 (Saturday). Overall, the Rockets are winless in their last 5 games (0-4-1-0) and are 1-4-1-1 in seven games since the Christmas break. Following tonight’s game the team travels to Everett Friday before welcoming Marc Habscheid, Jeff Truitt and the Prince Albert Raiders Saturday. The Rockets are 13-11-3-1 in 28 games under head coach Adam Foote. 

Who’s Hot: Lassi Thomson has 2+6=8 points in his last 11 games…Nolan Foote has points in 10 of his last 15 games. Foote has 6+8=14 over that stretch...Leif Mattson has 10 goals in his last 18 games. The 19 year-old has registered at least one shot on goal in 39 of the teams 41 games this season. Kyle Topping has registered a point in 29 of the teams 41 games this season... The Rockets penalty killing unit is 39 for 46 in their last 10 road games…The Rockets have points in 10 of their last 11 home games (8-1-2-0).   

New Boys on Blue Line: The team acquired 20 year-old Shael Higson last Wednesday from the Brandon Wheat Kings for 20 year-old Braydyn Chizen and a 5^th round bantam pick. The team then claimed 20 year-old defenceman Matt Barberis off waivers last Thursday from the Vancouver Giants. To make room for Barberis, the team released overage forward Lane Lablocki.

Broadcasters Notebook: The Rockets open a stretch of playing five of their next 7 games on home ice…The Rockets are 4-7-0-0 in 11 games against a US Division team this season. Three of the four wins have come against Tri City with a single victory over Seattle…The team plays 9 more games against US Division rivals with four games against Spokane, two with Everett and Portland and a single against Seattle.….The Rockets have played 11-one goal games at home this season. Last year they played 15-one goal games at Prospera Place…The team has played in 8-one goal games on the road….The Rockets have six birthday’s in January which include Liam Kindree (Jan 2^nd), Kris Mallette (Jan 19^th – turns 40), Ethan Ernst and Dalton Gally (Jan 26^th), Ted Brennan (Jan 28^th) and Kaedan Korczak (January 29^th)…The Rockets are sending a CHL high three players to the CHL/NHL Top Prospects Game next month in Red Deer. Nolan Foote (Team Cherry), Lassi Thomson/Kaedan Korczak (Team Orr) will attend the game of the top 40 prospects. The game will take place January 23^rd…Since going 1-8-0-0 to start the season, the team is 16-13-3-1 in their last 33 games …Leif Mattson has 5-two goal games this season. Four of those five-two goal games have come on the road…The Rockets are 7-10-2-1 against BC Division teams this season…Five members of the Kelowna Rockets have been named to NHL Central Scouting’s November “Players to Watch’ List. Forward Nolan Foote is an ‘A’ prospect, meaning a first round candidate. Kaedan Korczak is a ‘B’ prospect which means he is a second or third round candidate. Roman Basran/Lassi Thomson and Alex Swetlikoff are ‘C’ prospects, which means he could be taken in the third to the seventh round…Adam Foote was officially named the new head coach of the Kelowna Rockets on October 23, 2018 replacing Jason Smith.,,The Rockets are 5-10-1-0 when playing the second game of back-to-backs.

Season Highs/Lows:

Most goals scored: 8 @ Victoria October 19/18 (8-2 W)

Most goals allowed: 9 vs. Seattle October 10^th, 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)

Most power play goals allowed: 4 vs. Seattle October 10^th, 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