Preview: Rockets prepare to host back-to-back home games
| Prince George Cougars at Kelowna Rockets |
| Date | Time | Fri, Apr. 1, 2022 | 7:05 pm |
| Home Game # | 33 |
| Video Stream | WHL Live on CHL TV |
| Radio | AM 1150 |
| Live Updates | @Kelowna_Rockets Twitter |
| Next Game | Sat, Apr. 2 vs VIC – 7:05 pm |
| Victoria Royals at Kelowna Rockets |
| Date | Time | Sat, Apr. 2, 2022 | 7:05 pm |
| Home Game # | 34 |
| Video Stream | WHL Live on CHL TV |
| Radio | AM 1150 |
| Live Stats | WHL Box Score |
| Live Updates | @Kelowna_Rockets Twitter |
| Next Game | Tue, Apr. 5 @ PG – 7:00 pm |
The Kelowna Rockets will host back-to-back weekend home games this weekend when they take on the Prince George Cougars on Friday night and the Victoria Royals on Saturday night.
The Rockets were last in action on Saturday when they took the season series against the Kamloops Blazers (8-4-0-2) with a 5-3 win over the Blazers. With the victory, Kelowna snapped a seven-game skid. Pavel Novak and Colton Dach led the way with four points, Dach posted his first WHL hat trick. Talyn Boyko made 28 saves on 31 shots.
The Cougars two-game win streak came to an end on Wednesday night in Kamloops, where they fell 8-2 to the Blazers. With the win, the Blazers clinched the BC Division title.
The Royals will be well-rested, they’ve been off since Saturday when they were shut out 3-0 by Prince George. They have Friday night off.
The Royals and Cougars are both battling for spots in the playoffs. You can find the standings below.
TICKETS
Tickets for Friday’s game and all Rockets games are available at selectyourtickets.com, at the Prospera Place box office or by phone at 250-762-5050. Select Your Tickets is open 11:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. Tuesday through Friday and opens at 1:00 p.m. on Saturday home game days.
Season ticket holders are reminded to use their game #33 tickets for Friday and #34 on Saturday.
THE LAST TIME THESE TWO MET
vs Prince George
The Rockets last faced the Cougars on February 19th in Prince Geroge, taking the game 3-2. Turner McMillen, Jake Lee and Gabriel Szturc all scored for Kelowna in the game on the 19th, while Talyn Boyko turned aside 26 of 28 shots.
vs Victoria
Kelowna played their final game of the season on the island back on March 23rd, falling to the Royals 4-3. Tanner Scott had an assist on all four Royals goals, while Brayden Schuurman posted a pair. Kelowna fired 29 shots on Campbell Arnold.
ROSTER NEWS
The Rockets have no injuries to report this week.
Cougars forward Blake Eastman is listed as out with a lower-body injury, time tbd.
The Royals have listed both Carter Dereniwsky and Jacson Alexander out with season-ending injuries. Keanu Derungs and Luke Shipley are listed out week to week.
Injury updates for all WHL teams can be found in the WHL Weekly Report.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
- Colton Dach snapped a four-game pointless streak with a four-point putting against the Blazers on Saturday that included his first WHL hat trick. He sits second in team scoring with 59 points (24G, 35), 49 penalty minutes and a +14 plus/minus rating through 53 games this season.
- Turner McMillen needs just one more point to pass his dad, Dave McMillen, in career regular-season WHL points. Dave posted 40 (13G, 27A) points over 188 games between 1988 and 1993, meanwhile Turner has put up 40 (13G, 27A) points through 77 games with the Rockets. We’re guessing Turner won’t come close to Dave’s 831 penalty minutes.
- Koehn Ziemmer, who was selected fourth overall by the Cougars in the 2019 WHL Prospects Draft, leads Prince George in scoring with 56 points (30G, 26A) through 61 games. The Mayerthope, Alta. product isn’t eligible until the 2023 NHL Draft due to his late birthdate.
- This will be the last time that the Rockets see overage forward Bailey Peach unless they face the Royals in the playoffs. Peach leads the Royals in scoring with 74 points (34G, 40A), he’s 22 points ahead of Brayden Schuurman who sits in second with 52.
WESTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS
| # | Team | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | PTS |
| 1 | X Everett Silvertips | 61 | 43 | 10 | 3 | 5 | 94 |
| 2 | X Kamloops Blazers | 62 | 45 | 15 | 2 | 0 | 92 |
| 3 | X Portland Winterhawks | 62 | 41 | 16 | 3 | 2 | 87 |
| 4 | X Seattle Thunderbirds | 62 | 39 | 17 | 4 | 2 | 84 |
| 5 | X Kelowna Rockets | 60 | 35 | 19 | 1 | 5 | 76 |
| 6 | Vancouver Giants | 60 | 23 | 33 | 4 | 0 | 50 |
| 7 | Victoria Royals | 63 | 22 | 35 | 5 | 1 | 50 |
| 8 | Prince George Cougars | 61 | 22 | 36 | 2 | 1 | 47 |
| 9 | Spokane Chiefs | 61 | 19 | 37 | 4 | 1 | 43 |
| 10 | Tri-City Americans | 62 | 18 | 39 | 5 | 0 | 41 |
SEASON SERIES
vs PG
| Nov. 6 | vs Prince George | 4-1 W |
| Nov. 12 | @ Prince George | 5-2 W |
| Nov. 13 | @ Prince George | 3-0 W |
| Nov. 27 | vs Prince George | 4-1 W |
| Dec. 10 | vs Prince George | 3-2 L |
| Feb. 16 | vs Prince George | 5-2 L |
| Feb. 18 | @ Prince George | 3-2 W |
| Feb. 19 | @ Prince George | 3-2 W |
| Apr. 1 | vs Prince George | 7:05 PM |
| Apr. 5 | @ Prince George | 7:00 PM |
| Apr. 6 | @ Prince George | 7:00 PM |
| Apr. 16 | vs Prince George | 7:05 PM |
vs Victoria
| Oct. 8 | @ Victoria | 6-3 L |
| Oct. 9 | @ Victoria | 6-4 W |
| Oct. 30 | vs. Victoria | 5-4 OTW |
| Dec. 14 | vs. Victoria | 5-4 OTW |
| Jan. 1 | vs. Victoria | 5-2 W |
| Jan. 14 | vs. Victoria | 6-4 W |
| Jan. 15 | vs. Victoria | 9-1 W |
| Jan. 25 | @ Victoria | 4-3 SOW |
| Jan. 26 | @ Victoria | 4-3 W |
| Mar. 4 | vs. Victoria | 5-4 OTW |
| Mar. 22 | @ Victoria | 4-2 L |
| Mar. 23 | @ Victoria | 4-3 L |
| Apr. 2 | vs. Victoria | 7:05 PM |
ONLINE 50/50
The Kelowna Rockets online 50/50 is back for the 2021-22 season!
The online 50/50 will give fans in Rockets fans located in British Columbia the chance to win during every Rockets home game this season. The 50/50 will also raise important dollars for the Kelowna Minor Hockey Association.
Tickets will be available for purchase on all game days starting at 9 a.m. PT and end at the start of the third period on the same day.
CLICK HERE to learn more about the online 50/50 and purchase tickets.
LINEUP SHEETS + GAME DAY PROGRAM
Due to Covid-19 protocols, printed lineup sheets will not be available at games for fans this season. They can be accessed online in the game day program.
The program will be uploaded by 3 p.m. on game day.
JDS PROJECTED LINEUP
The Rockets will post the JDS Mining Projected Lineup complete with line combos at least half an hour prior to puck drop for all games this season. You will be able to find the graphic on our Twitter, Facebook and Instagram stories.
All fans attending Rockets games will need to abide by the BC Provincial Health Authority, Prospera Place and the Western Hockey League’s COVID-19 health and safety requirements which includes double vaccination and their BC vaccine card. As of March 10th, masks are optional.
