Preview: Rockets set kick off first of three back-to-back weekends against Blazers
| Kelowna Rockets at Kamloops Blazers |
| Date | Time | March. 11, 2022 | 7:00 pm |
| Video Stream | WHL Live on CHL TV |
| Radio | AM 1150 |
| Live Stats | WHL Box Score |
| Live Updates | @Kelowna_Rockets Twitter |
| Kamloops Blazers at Kelowna Rockets |
| Home Game # | 30 |
| Date | Time | Mar. 12, 2022 | 7:05 pm |
| Tickets | Select Your Tickets |
| Video Stream | WHL Live on CHL TV |
| Radio | AM 1150 |
| Live Stats | WHL Box Score |
| Live Updates | @Kelowna_Rockets Twitter |
The Kelowna Rockets will put their three-game win streak on the line when they face the Kamloops Blazers in a home-and-home series this weekend.
It’s the first of three straight weekends that the Rockets will face the Blazers in home and home series matchups.
Kamloops will host Kelowna Friday at the Sandman Centre at 7:00 pm, they’ll then head to Prospera to play the Rockets at 7:05 pm on Saturday.
Saturday’s game is also the Rockets, RE/MAX Presents: Talk Today Game Night. The WHL, the Rockets and RE/MAX are teaming up with the Kelowna Canadian Mental Health Association branch to promote positive mental health.
Fans in attendance will have the opportunity to learn more about CMHA mental health resources available in an effort to break down the stigma surrounding mental health and win swag from RE/MAX.
The game will feature:
- A Silent Auction to benefit the Kelowna CMHA Branch that will include items such as: Team Signed Jersey’s, Experience Packages, Suite Night for a Rockets Game with $250.00 Food Credit
- Re/Max Agents in house handing out $20.00 Concession Gift Cards and Swag
- A CMHA-run kiosk so fans can learn more about mental health
With the B.C. health officials announcing Thursday that the province will remove its order requiring masks in all indoor public spaces as of 12:01 a.m. Friday, fans will not be required to wear masks when attending Rockets games starting Saturday.
Fans will still be required to show their vaccine passport
The Rockets were last in action on Sunday, completing a three-in-three weekend that saw the Rockets collect all nine points.
On Sunday, Kelowna picked up their third win of the weekend with a come from behind 5-4 victory over the Vancouver Giants at the Langley Events Centre in Langley, BC. The Rockets burst out of the gate with a pair of goals in the opening two minutes of the game. The Giants pushed back with three straight goals to take the lead before the end of the first period. Talyn Boyko replaced Jari Kykkanen in net for Kelowna to start the second period. The Rockets then tied the game on a goal from Andrew Cristall and Mark Liwiski pushed them ahead with a penalty shot. Vancouver tied the game early in the final frame, but Liwiski played the hero with his second goal of the game.
Kamloops has climbed up to seventh in the Kia CHL Top-10 Rankings for March 9th, 2o22. Last weekend on the road they came from behind to down the Vancouver Giants 4-3 in overtime, they then topped the Victoria Royals 2-1 on Saturday.
Blazers netminder Dylan Garand has been out since February 2nd, he left the game with a lower-body injury after colliding with a Vancouver Giant. He has been listed as day-to-day on the WHL’s Weekly Report for the last three weeks. In Garand’s absence, Dylan Ernst has stepped up. Ernst was named the WHL Goaltender of the Week for the week ending March 6, 2022. The 18-year-old posted a 3-0-0-0 record this past week along with a 1.97 goals-against average and .930 save percentage, helping the Blazers claim a share of first place in the Western Conference standings.
TICKETS
Tickets for Saturday’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.
With this past Wednesday’s game postponed, season ticket holders are reminded to use their game #30 tickets for Saturday. Game #29 tickets will be used for the game on April 12th.
ROSTER UPDATES
Poole and Novak returned to the lineup last weekend, the Rockets have no injuries to report this week.
Blazers netminder Dylan Garand(lower body), forward Kobe Verbicky (upper body) and defenceman Marko Stacha (upper body) are all listed as day-to-day.
Injury updates for all WHL teams can be found in the WHL Weekly Report.
ROCKETS TO WATCH
- Chicago Blackhawks prospect Colton Dach has nine points (7G, 2A) and 30 shots on goal in six games against the Blazers this season.
- Goaltender Talyn Boyko is 6-1-0-0 against the Kamloops Blazers this season, he has a .925 SAV% and 2.37 GAA against the Blazers this year.
THE LAST TIME THESE TWO MET
The Rockets played the Blazers in a home-and-home series two weeks ago that started off with a 2-1 victory over the BC Division leading Kamloops Blazers on February 25 at Prospera Place in Kelowna, BC. Rockets captain defenceman Tyson Feist scored both goals for Kelowna after Kamloops opened the scoring. Talyn Boyko made 30 saves on 31 shots to pick up his 21st win of the season. The Blazers then responded the next night by snapping Kelowna’s four game win streak with a 6-2 win at the Sandman Centre in Kamloops, BC.
WESTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS
| # | Team | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | PTS |
| 1 | x- Everett Silvertips | 55 | 36 | 9 | 3 | 5 | 80 |
| 2 | x- Kamloops Blazers | 55 | 39 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 80 |
| 3 | x – Portland Winterhawks | 56 | 37 | 14 | 3 | 2 | 79 |
| 4 | x- Seattle Thunderbirds | 53 | 34 | 14 | 4 | 1 | 73 |
| 5 | x- Kelowna Rockets | 52 | 34 | 14 | 1 | 3 | 72 |
| 6 | Vancouver Giants | 52 | 20 | 29 | 3 | 0 | 43 |
| 7 | Spokane Chiefs | 54 | 18 | 31 | 4 | 1 | 41 |
| 8 | Prince George Cougars | 53 | 19 | 31 | 2 | 1 | 41 |
| 9 | Victoria Royals | 55 | 16 | 33 | 5 | 1 | 38 |
| 10 | Tri-City Americans | 53 | 15 | 33 | 5 | 0 | 35 |
as of Thursday afternoon
SEASON SERIES
vs KAMLOOPS
| Oct. 15 | vs Kamloops | 4-2 W |
| Nov. 10 | vs Kamloops | 3-2 W |
| Dec. 4 | @ Kamloops | 4-3 W |
| Dec. 18 | vs Kamloops | 7-4 W |
| Dec. 28 | @ Kamloops | 2-1 OTW |
| Dec. 29 | vs Kamloops | 6-2 W |
| Feb. 25 | vs Kamloops | 2-1 W |
| Feb. 26 | @ Kamloops | 6-2 L |
| Mar. 11 | @ Kamloops | 7:00 PM |
| Mar. 12 | vs Kamloops | 7:05 PM |
| Mar. 18 | vs Kamloops | 7:05 PM |
| Mar. 19 | @ Kamloops | 7:05 PM |
| Mar. 25 | @ Kamloops | 7:00 PM |
| Mar. 26 | vs Kamloops | 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.
