Gameday Notes: Rockets open weekend against Seattle

TEAM NOTES PREPARED BY REGAN BARTEL OF AM 1150

Tonight’s Preview: The Kelowna Rockets open a mini two-game U.S Division road trip tonight against the Seattle Thunderbirds. This is the second meeting of the season between these two teams. Back on October 11^th, the Rockets were an 8-3 winner. Nolan Foote had two goals while former T-Birds Dillon Hamaliuk had a goal and an assist. Kyle Topping had four assists. The T-Birds make two visits to Kelowna on January 24^th and March 6^th. The Rockets are coming off a 4-1 win over Victoria Wednesday night. Alex Swetlikoff, Michael Farren, Jake Lee and Kaedan Korczak scored in the teams’ 11^th win of the season. After this game, the Rockets are in Tri-City (7:05 pm) Saturday night. The next home game is Tuesday against visiting Edmonton in the teams’ third to last home date before the Christmas break.

                                                                TALE OF THE TAPE

Who’s Hot: Alex Swetlikoff has goals in five of his last seven games…Nolan Foote had his six-game point streak snapped Wednesday. Foote had 3+6=9…Rookie Jake Poole has 1+3=4 in his last three games…Michael Farren has 3+8=11 in his last ten games.

Broadcasters Notebook: Michael Farren played in his 200^th career game last Saturday against Kamloops…Pavel Novak is serving game three of an eight game suspension issued by the WHL for a checking from behind major and game misconduct penalty. Novak won’t return until December 10^th against Brandon…Leif Mattson plays in his 200^th career game tonight…Nolan Foote, Dillon Hamaliuk and Kaedan Korczak played for Team WHL in the Canada-Russia Series. Foote had an assist on the tying goal in Team WHL’s 2-1 overtime victory. Then in the rematch, Nolan Foote scored twice in regulation time and then the shootout winner in a 4-3 victory…Pavel Novak remains a ‘C’ prospect for next June’s NHL Draft. Those new rankings were updated by NHL Central Scouting. A ‘C’ prospect is regarded as a player selected between the 5^th and 7th round. The 2020 NHL Entry Draft will be held in Montreal.

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Player Move: The Rockets solidified the goaltending situation, sending 19-year-old James Porter to the Vernon Vipers of the BCHL. Porter was beat out for the backup job by 18-year-old Cole Schwebius. Porter played in 72 regular-season games with the Rockets but was a healthy scratch for all 15 games this season.

Sign here please: Dillon Hamaliuk signed an entry-level contract with the San Jose Sharks October 25^th. Hamaliuk was chosen in the 2^nd round by the Sharks in June

Puck drop is set for 7:35 pm in Kent, Wa. You can listen to the game on AM 1150, watch on WHL Live or follow the Rockets Twitter for live updates.

Six and twelve game mini-packs are now on sale! Order yours today by filling out this form or by contacting Gavin Hamilton at 250-979-0851 ([email protected]) or Andrew Deans at 250-979-0863 ([email protected]).