Preview: Rockets return to action against Cougars
The Kelowna Rockets will play their first game in more than two weeks when they head to Kamloops tomorrow night to take on the Prince George Cougars.
The Rockets entered a league-mandated, 14-day isolation period following the discovery of a positive test for COVID-19 on Tuesday, March 30. Though seven additional positive tests for COVID-19 were discovered within the Rockets team cohort, this occurred while the individuals were in isolation and did not impact upon the initial start of the 14-day isolation period.
The Western Hockey League announced earlier this week that Kelowna was cleared to resume team activities beginning Wednesday, April 14, after all individuals within the team cohort tested negative for COVID-19 this week.
Prince George will face off against the Victoria Royals at Prospera Place on Friday night before hosting the Rockets. The Cougars enter the weekend with a record of 3-3-1-1.
Shaking off the rust
The Rockets last played on March 29 when they dropped a 6-0 decision to the Vancouver Giants. Kelowna has played just two games this season, they blanked the Victoria Royals 5-0 in their season opener on March, 26.
The team continued to do zoom workouts and yoga at home during the quarantine, but only resumed skating this past Wednesday.
TRUE Hockey Game Day Guide and JDS Projected Lineup
The TRUE Hockey Game Day Media Guide will be available with team notes, stats and rosters for all games. Feel free to print this at home.
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.
Watch and listen
Puck drop is set for 7:00 p.m. from the Sandman Centre.
You can watch all Rockets games on the newly-launched WHL Live on CHL TV. More are details available by visiting watch.CHL.ca. As of Monday, CHL TV is now compatible with Roku.
You can also listen to the game on AM1550.
2020-201 B.C. Division Standings
| # | Team | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | PTS |
| 1 | Kamloops Blazers | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
| 2 | Vancouver Giants | 8 | 5 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 10 |
| 3 | Prince George Cougars | 8 | 3 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 8 |
| 4 | Victoria Royals | 8 | 1 | 6 | 1 | 0 | 3 |
| 5 | Kelowna Rockets | 2 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 2 |
2019-2020 Season Series vs. Prince George Cougars: 7-1-0-0
Oct. 4, 2019: Kelowna 2 at Prince George 1
Oct. 5, 2019: Kelowna 1 at Prince George 4
Oct. 23, 2019: Kelowna 4 at Prince George 2
Nov. 1, 2019: Prince George 2 at Kelowna 6
Nov. 30, 2019: Prince George 2 at Kelowna 3
Dec. 30, 2019: Prince George 2 at Kelowna 3 OT
Feb. 25, 2020: Kelowna 5 at Prince George 4 OT
Feb. 26, 2020: Kelowna 5 at Prince George 4
Mar. 18, 2020: Prince George at Kelowna cancelled
Players to watch:
Kelowna:
- Alex Swetlikoff didn’t miss a beat in the season opener, netting both shots on goal he had. He leads the Rockets in faceoff attempts with 37, he’s been successful on 16 of those draws,
- It’s more than likely we’ll see a few of the Rockets other young guns. Rilen Kovacevic, Scott Cousins, Noah Dorey and William Irvine have yet to make an appearance this season.
Prince George:
- 2003 born Craig Armstrong is tied for the team lead in points with seven (5G, 2A) in as many games. He posted four goals against the Vancouver Giants on April 12.
- Koehn Ziemmer was the fourth overall pick in the 2019 WHL Draft. The rookie centre has four points (2G, 2A) in eight games this season.
As the WHL returns to play in the WHL Hub Centers in Kamloops and Kelowna, no spectators will be permitted to enter Sandman Centre or Prospera Place.
WHL fans can look forward to taking in games across the whole league through the newly-launched WHL Live on CHL TV. More are details available by visiting watch.CHL.ca.
