Preview: Rockets look to jump back into win column
The Kelowna Rockets will hopefully have some reinforcements back in the lineup tomorrow night when they open their three-game weekend tomorrow night against the Seattle Thunderbirds.
Kyle Topping (lower body), Sean Comrie, (upper body), Mark Liwiski (upper body), Roman Basran (upper body) and Trevor Wong (lower body) are all listed as day to day on the Rockets Injury Report.
Nolan Foote (lower body/week to week) and Liam Kindree (upper body/ten weeks) won’t be in the lineup.
Kelowna will open their weekend at home against the Thunderbirds tomorrow night at 7:05 p.m. They’ll then play a home and home series against the Vancouver Giants, starting on Saturday at the Langley Events Centre at 7:00 p.m. The Rockets will then host a rare Sunday matchup at 5:05 p.m.
The Rockets are in the midst of six-game losing streak, dropping their three games last weekend as their injury-riddled lineup visited Everett and Portland—both are in the KIA CHL Top 10 Rankings.
Tomorrow will be Seattle’s first of two visits to Prospera Place this season. The Thunderbirds were last in action on Sunday, where they were blanked 2-0 by the Everett Silvertips.
Vancouver was also shutout in their last outing, falling 4-0 to the B.C. Division-leading Kamloops Blazers. They’ll play at home tonight against the Silvertips before the Rockets roll into town.
B.C. Division Standings
| # | Team | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | PTS |
| 1 | Kamloops Blazers | 44 | 30 | 11 | 2 | 1 | 63 |
| 2 | Victoria Royals | 43 | 25 | 15 | 3 | 0 | 53 |
| 3 | Kelowna Rockets | 41 | 21 | 20 | 1 | 2 | 45 |
| 4 | Vancouver Giants | 39 | 19 | 19 | 2 | 2 | 42 |
| 5 | Prince George Cougars | 43 | 12 | 24 | 3 | 4 | 31 |
U.S. Division Standings
| # | Team | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | PTS |
| 1 | Portland Winterhawks | 44 | 33 | 6 | 2 | 3 | 71 |
| 2 | Everett Silvertips | 44 | 29 | 11 | 3 | 1 | 62 |
| 3 | Spokane Chiefs | 44 | 22 | 15 | 4 | 1 | 53 |
| 4 | Seattle Thunderbirds | 43 | 18 | 22 | 2 | 1 | 39 |
| 5 | Tri-City Americans | 42 | 14 | 23 | 4 | 1 | 33 |
2019-2020 Season Series vs. Seattle Thunderbirds: 2-0-0-0
Oct. 11, 2019: KEL 8 at SEA 3
Nov. 22, 2019: KEL 3 at SEA 2
upcoming games
Jan. 24, 2020: SEA at KEL
Mar. 6, 2020: SEA at KEL
2019-2020 Season Series vs Vancouver Giants: 1-3-0-0
Sept. 29, 2019: KEL 0 at VAN 4
Dec. 18, 2019: VAN 4 at KEL 3
Dec. 28, 2019: KEL 2 at VAN 6
Jan. 4, 2020: VAN 2 at KEL 3 SO
Jan. 25, 2020: KEL at VAN
Jan. 26, 2020: VAN at KEL
Mar. 20, 2020: KEL at VAN
Mar. 21, 2020: VAN at KEL
Players to watch
Kelowna
- Centre Matthew Wedman will face his former team for the first time on Friday night. The former captain of the Seattle Thunderbirds was acquired on December 5. Wedman touched base with kelownarockets.com earlier this week about the trade and having the chance to play in another Memorial Cup, you can read that by clicking here.
- Import forward Jonas Peterek has three goals in his last four games since being acquired from the Calgary Hitmen.
Seattle
- Conner Bruggen-Cate will make his first trip back to Kelowna tomorrow night. The Thunderbirds captain went the other way in the Lee, Hamaliuk, Schwebius deal back at the WHL Bantam Draft in May.
- Rookie Conner Roulette has been a bright spot for the T-Birds this season, the 16-year-old has racked up 26 points in 34 games.
Vancouver
- Defenceman Bowen Byram was absent from the Giants lineup the last two games against the Rockets. The Colorado Avalanche prospect helped Team Canada secure gold at the World Juniors.
- Tristen Nielsen is leading the Giants in scoring with 20 goals and 20 assists in 42 games this season.
