Gameday Notes: Tigers at Rockets

TEAM NOTES PREPARED BY REGAN BARTEL OF AM 1150

Tonight’s Preview: The Kelowna Rockets close out a three-game homestand tonight against the visiting Medicine Hat Tigers. This is the lone meeting of the season between the two teams. Last season, in Medicine Hat, Leif Mattson scored twice in a 2-1 win (December 15/2018). The Tigers last appearance in Kelowna was November 25, 2017 in a 4-0 loss. Roman Basran made 38 saves in the victory. The Rockets had a two-game winning streak snapped Wednesday night with a 6-3 loss to the Victoria Royals. Jake Poole, Pavel Novak and Alex Swetlikoff scored in the teams’ second loss on home ice this season (5-2-0-0). Following tonight’s game the Rockets are in Spokane tomorrow night before visiting the Kamloops Blazers on Monday November 11^th – Remembrance Day.

                                                                             TALE OF THE TAPE

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’s NHL Draft. The 19 year-old joins Nolan Foote, who was signed by Tampa Bay back on June 25^th.   

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Nolan Named Captain: Nolan Foote was named the 25^th captain in franchise history (Tacoma+Kelowna) October 18th. Foote joins brother Cal, who captained the Rockets during the 2017-2018 season. Both are first-round selections of the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning. The Rockets selected Foote in the second round, 42^nd overall in the 2015 WHL Bantam Draft. This is Foote’s fourth and likely final season in the WHL.    

Who’s Hot: Forward Pavel Novak has 10 goals in his last 13 games and has points in nine of his last 12 games…Alex Swetlikoff has goals in back-to-back games…Kaedan Korczak has 0+6=6 in his last 7 games and has points in five of his last seven……Nolan Foote has 8 goals in his last 10 games and has 12 multiple-goal games over his career…Nolan Foote leads the team in shots on goal with 46….Ethan Ernst has 1+3=4 in his last 5 games.  

Broadcasters Notebook: Equipment Manager Chaydyn Johnson is a member of the off-ice staff for the World Under 17 Hockey Challenge in Medicine Hat and Swift Current, November 2^nd to 9^th. Johnson is behind the bench of Team Red ….Nolan Foote, Dillon Hamaliuk and Kaedan Korczak have been named to Team WHL for the upcoming Canada-Russia Series next week. Those three will compete in two games against the touring Russian Selects in games in Prince Albert and Saskatoon…Pavel Novak is a ‘C’ prospect for next June’s NHL Draft. Those rankings released 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….Roman Basran has started in 12 of 15 games this season…The Rockets are 3-5-1-1 in 10 attempts against BC Division teams this season, with two wins over Prince George and a victory over the Victoria Royals.

Tickets for tonight’s game are on sale at selectyourtickets.com, at the Prospera Place box office or by phone at 250-762-5050