Preview: Rockets head to Portland for back to back games
Kelowna Rockets at Portland Winterhawks
| Date | Time | Wednesday, Jan. 31, 2024 | 7:00 pm |
| Video Stream | CHL TV |
| Radio | 104.7 The Lizard + Rocket Fan App |
| Live Stats | WHL Box Score |
| Live Updates | @Kelowna_Rockets on X (formally Twitter) |
Kelowna Rockets at Portland Winterhawks
| Date | Time | Friday, Feb. 2, 2024 | 7:00 pm |
| Video Stream | CHL TV |
| Radio | 104.7 The Lizard + Rocket Fan App |
| Live Stats | WHL Box Score |
| Live Updates | @Kelowna_Rockets on X (formally Twitter) |
The Kelowna Rockets will be looking to snap a four-game losing streak when they head to Portland to face the Winterhawks in back-to-back games on Wednesday and Friday.
The Rockets fell in both games of the home-and-home series this past weekend against the Kamloops Blazers. Kamloops clawed back in the third period on Friday to force overtime where they scored the game-winner with 4.7 seconds at Prospera Place. On Saturday the Blazers to control of the game 3-0 before the Rockets made a goaltending change. Kelowna battled back within one goal, but the Blazers were able to hold on to take a 3-1 advantage in the eight-game season series.
In the Week 17 edition of its CHL Top-10 Rankings for the 2023-24 season released on Tuesday (Jan. 30), the Winterhawks were ranked sixth in the nation, climbing six spots from last week.
Sitting atop the Western Conference and US Division standings, the Winterhawks have won eight of their last ten games.
Portland was perfect in their three-in-three over the weekend. On Friday they topped Tri-City 3-2, then handed Spokane a 5-4 loss on Saturday before capping off the weekend with a 4-1 victory over Seattle.
San Jose Sharks prospect Luca Cagnoni leads all WHL defencemen with 59 points (10G-49A) this season and ranks third among blueliners in the CHL. Meanwhile, defenceman Tyson Jugnauth continued his strong play, collecting four points (1G-3A) over Portland’s three wins last week. Jugnauth, who came to the Winterhawks from the NCAA’s University of Wisconsin in December, is averaging a point per game with his new club (18 points in 18 WHL games).
ROCKETS ROSTER UPDATES
- Carter Kowalyk and Jackson Gillespie are both no longer on this week’s report
- Sixteen-year-old affiliate defenceman Lachlan Staniforth has been returned to Fraser Valley Thunderbirds of the BCEHL U18
The Rockets injury report is updated weekly and can be viewed here.
ROCKETS TO WATCH
- Dylan Wightman recorded the Rockets opening goal in the loss to Kamloops on Friday
- Luke Schelter will make his first trip back to Portland since being acquired from the Winterhawks on December 8. In 18 games with the Rockets the 19-year-old forward has posted three goals and a pair of assists.
SEASON RECORDS
vs WINTERHAWKS
- Sept. 23 vs POR • 6-5 OTL
- Jan. 17 vs POR • 5-4 L
- Jan. 31 at POR • 7:00
- Feb. 2 at POR • 7:00
THE LAST TIME THESE TWO MET
Kelowna’s seven-game win streak on home ice came to an end as the Rockets fell 5-4 to the Portland Winterhawks on January 17.
Trailing 2-1 after one period of play the Winterhawks took control of the game in the second, limiting the Rockets to three shots in the middle stanza while adding three more goals. Kelowna was able to chip away at the Winterhawks lead, making it a one-goal game in the final minute of regulation.
Goaltender Jari Kykkanen was not available for the game. Seventeen-year-old rookie Jake Pilon made the start for the Rockets making 32 saves on 37 shots while an emergency backup was on the bench for Kelowna.
Detroit Red Wings prospect Nate Danielson made his debut with the Winterhawks that night following a trade from Brandon, recording a goal and an assist. In six games with Portland, he has posted eight points (2G, 6A) and six penalty minutes.
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. WHL Live on 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.
Kelowna’s next home game is set for Wednesday, February 7 when the Victoria Royals will visit Prospera Place for the final time this season. It will be a fan first menu with $2 hot dogs and $5 Lucky Lager.
Single Game Tickets for all Rockets games can be purchased: online at selectyourtickets.com, by calling Select Your Tickets at 250-762-5050, or by visiting the Select Your Tickets box office at the Prospera Place box office.
