Preview: Rockets head to US for three game weekend
| Kelowna Rockets at Spokane Chiefs |
| Date | Time | Fri, Dec. 2, 2022 | 7:05 pm |
| Video Stream | WHL Live on CHL TV |
| Radio | 104.7 The Lizard |
| Live Stats | WHL Box Score |
| Live Updates | @Kelowna_Rockets Twitter |
| Kelowna Rockets at Tri-City Americans |
| Date | Time | Sat, Dec. 3, 2022 | 6:05 pm |
| Video Stream | WHL Live on CHL TV |
| Radio | 104.7 The Lizard |
| Live Stats | WHL Box Score |
| Live Updates | @Kelowna_Rockets Twitter |
| Kelowna Rockets at Everett Silvertips |
| Date | Time | Dec. 4, 2022 | 4:05 pm |
| Video Stream | WHL Live on CHL TV |
| Radio | 104.7 The Lizard |
| Live Stats | WHL Box Score |
| Live Updates | @Kelowna_Rockets Twitter |
| Next Game | Friday, Dec. 9 vs Victoria |
The Kelowna Rockets will be looking to get back into the win column when this weekend when they place three games in as many nights.
They’ll start their weekend on Friday at 7:05 pm against the Spokane Chiefs, then they’ll face the Tri-City Americans at 6:05 pm on Saturday and will wrap up their road trip in Everett at 4:00 pm on Sunday
The Rockets are coming off of a 6-5 overtime loss to the Regina Pats that saw the two combine for seven power-play goals on the night including – the overtime winner. Max Graham and Caden both found the back of the net while leading Rockets leading scorer Andrew Cristall cashed in a pair as well as two assists. Talyn Boyko stopped 28 of the 34 shots he faced.
“We’ve gotta start taking care of our own and getting back in the win column,” said Rockets head coach Kris Mallette in his postgame interview on Tuesday. “Before you know it, we don’t want to be on the outside looking in so we’ve gotta take care of ours.”
Spokane has had the week off to prepare for Kelowna, they last played on Sunday where they dropped an 8-3 decision to the Silvertips.
Tri-City has also had the week off, they defeated the high-flying Seattle Thunderbirds 4-3 on Sunday. Lethbridge will take on the Am’s on Friday before Kelowna rolls in on Saturday.
Meanwhile, the Silvertips have Friday night off, they’ll host the Portland Winterhawks on Saturday before the Rockets arrive on Sunday.
The last time these two met
SPOKANE
The Kelowna Rockets exploded for a season-high ten goals, downing the Spokane Chiefs 10-3 in the first meeting between the two this season on November 19th at Prospera Place. Fourteen different skaters found the scoresheet, with Andrew Cristall, Colton Dach and Marcus Pacheco each posting four-point nights. Talyn Boyko made 27 saves on 30 shots.
TRI-CITY
Kelowna scored the opening goal of the game but Tri-City pushed back with three unanswered goals. The Rockets responded with four consecutive goals, including two from Jackson DeSouza, to complete the 5-3 comeback on November 20th at Prospera Place.
EVERETT
The two have already seen each other twice this season, with the Rockets evening up the season series with a 4-2 win on November 25th in Everett. Kelowna Rockets captain Colton Dach picked up first-star honours after posting an assist and the game-winning goal that broke the 2-2 tie. Rockets starter Talyn Boyko made 29 saves on 31 shots.
Roster Updates
The Rockets will be without forward Adam Kydd, it was announced earlier this week that the 20-year-old will miss the next six weeks with a lower-body injury.
Click here to view the Rockets Injury Report.
Players to watch
Kelowna
- Newly acquired Carson Golder posted a goal in his first game as a Rocket on Tuesday. The 20-year-old forward was leading the Oil Kings in scoring when he was dealt to the Rockets on Tuesday along with a draft pick and Rilen Kovacevic.
- Andrew Cristall will enter the weekend with a 12-game point streak that’s seen him record 30 points (11G, 19A) over that span. He was named to the Canadian Hockey League’s Team of the Month for November on Thursday.
- Defenceman Caden Price enters the weekend with points in his last two outings, having recorded a goal and two assists in Tuesday’s game against Regina.
Spokane
- Sixteen-year-old forward Berkly Catton was selected first overall by Spokane in the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft.
- Nineteen-year-old Chase Bertholet leads the Chiefs scoring with 26 points (9G, 17A) over 21 games this season – he posted two assists against the Rockets on November 18th.
Tri-City
- Sixteen-year-old forward Jordan Gavin was selected one pick after Berkly Catton, going second overall to the Ams in the 2021 WHL Prospects Draft. The Surrey, BC.
- Highly touted 2023 NHL Draft prospect Lukas Dragicevic leads the Americans in scoring, the defenceman has posted 32 points (8G, 32A) over 23 games this season. Just like Crsitall, he was elevated to an A rating from the NHL’s Central Scouting. He was also named to the Canadian Hockey League’s Team of the Month for November on Thursday.
Everett
- Centre Austin Roest leads the Silvertips in scoring with 35 points (16G, 19A) through 23 games.
- Anaheim Ducks prospect and World Junior gold medalist Olen Zellweger leads Everett’s defence in scoring with 23 points (10G, 13A) in 2o games this season.
Series at a glance
2022-23 Season Series vs Spokane (1-0-0-0)
| Nov. 18 | vs Spokane | 10-3 W |
| Dec. 2 | @ Spokane | 7:05 pm |
| Mar. 1 | @ Spokane | 7:05 pm |
| Mar. 11 | vs Spokane | 7:05 pm |
2022-23 Season Series vs Tri-City (1-0-0-0)
| Nov. 19 | vs Tri-City | 5-3 W |
| Dec. 3 | @ Tri-City | 6:05 pm |
| Feb 20 | vs Tri-City | 2:05 pm |
| Mar. 12 | @ Tri-City | 4:05 pm |
2022-23 Season Series vs EVT (1-1-0-0)
| Oct. 14 | vs Everett | 5-4 L |
| Nov. 25 | @ Everett | 4-2 W |
| Dec. 4 | @ Evertt | 4:05 pm |
| Feb. 15 | vs Everett | 7:05 pm |
Watch and listen
Radio broadcast
Rockets games will be broadcast on 104.7 FM the Lizard this season with Regan Bartel calling all of the action.
Don’t forget to download the RocketFAN app and visit rocketfan.ca for more exclusive Rockets content from Pattison. Fans can stream the radio broadcast of all Rockets games on the app.
Click here to download RocketFAN on Google Play
Click here to download RocketFAN on the App Store
Online video stream
All Rockets games will be available on WHL Live on CHL TV. WHL Live on CHL TV is available to fans anywhere in the world, providing high-quality streaming of WHL games on Apple TV, Roku, and Amazon Fire TV platforms, via mobile with iOS and Android, and on web using Safari or Google Chrome web browsers. Visit watch.chl.ca for complete details and subscription options.
The next Rockets home game is December 9th when they’ll host the Victoria Royals for the annual teddy bear toss game. Single-game tickets for all Rockets home games are on sale at Select Your Tickets. Tickets can be purchased online through www.selectyourtickets.com, at the Prospera Place box office, or by phone at 250-762-5050.
