Thumbs up on 2019-2020 schedule

Shoot the Breeze Photography

• When I first looked at the Kelowna Rockets 2019-2020 regular season schedule, I had one reaction. Nice. This schedule, which still has its share of quirks, is significantly better than a season ago. I would have to say that 2019 had the team, far too many times, playing Friday night's at home and then busing for a significant distance to play the next night on the road. While that can't always be avoided, this schedule on paper, looks dramatically better than a season ago. With a team lacking in depth, it felt the ramifications of a hard schedule that only elite teams are able to survive. Ok, lets dive in and take a look.
• Two other events outside of Rockets home games will be hosted by Prospera Place in October. 'World of Dance Live' is in the building October 7th while 'Skate Canada International' takes over the building for four days from October 24th to the 27th. That pushes the Rockets on the road for the majority of the month. Of the 10 games in October, only three will be at home. It's a tough month with the team playing three games in Prince George, including a single on Wednesday October 23rd. 
• I like the schedule where the Rockets play back-to-back games in Portland January 18th and 19th. In fact, the trip is part of three straight on the road, with a stop in Everett January 17th. It makes so much sense to make a stop there considering it is along the I-5.
• The tough trips are the two single dates in Tri City. It would be nice to see those paired with a game in nearby Spokane either the night before or the night after. As an example, the Rockets play at home against Vancouver on January 4th and then bus overnight into Kennewick to face the Americans on a Sunday afternoon at 4:05. Advantage home team. Only once do I remember playing the Americans in a doubleheader at Toyota Centre. I loved it.  
• Three in three's are common place in the WHL. The Rockets have six of them.
• The neatest tweak in the schedule is the Rockets going out on the road before Christmas on their Eastern Road swing. That is nothing unusual outside of the fact the Rockets will play a game in Winnipeg, against the newly named Winnipeg Ice, on December 11th. What is new, is the team will play one home game before the Christmas break. After playing 6 games in 9 nights on the prairies, the team will return home to host Vancouver December 18th before cracking open some egg nog.
• March allows the team to get a breather before what is hoped will be a long playoff run. In March, the Rockets play 8 games. Of those 8, six are on home ice.   
• Typically the Rockets play the Kamloops Blazers in a home and home series right after Christmas. Not this season. The Rockets host the Blazers December 27th but then travel to Langley to face the Vancouver Giants a night later. 
• The Rockets play only one game on a Sunday. The date is January 26th against the visiting Vancouver Giants at 5:05 pm. 
• The home opener is Saturday September 21st against the Dan Lambert-less Spokane Chiefs.