Preview: Rockets set to host Giants for Winmar Hockey and Winter Gear Drive game
The Kelowna Rockets will close out their first half of the 2019/2020 season tomorrow night when they host the Vancouver Giants for Hat-Trick Wednesday.
It’s also the Winmar Hockey and Winter Gear Drive, fans are asked to bring new or used mittens, toques, gloves, jackets and hockey gear to donate to Jumpstart. Winmar will be cleaning all donated gear.
It will mark the first home game for the Rockets since November 30. Kelowna was on the road for the last two weeks to face the six East Division teams, the Rockets went 4-2-0-0 while on the trip.
They were last in action on Saturday where Kaedan Korczak lifted the team to victory over the Moose Jaw Warriors in overtime with his second goal of the night.
Vancouver last played on Saturday where they fell 3-2 to the Everett Silvertips.
The Giants will host the Prince George Cougars tonight before heading to Kelowna for tomorrow night’s matchup.
B.C. Division Standings
| # | Team | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | PTS |
| 1 | Kamloops Blazers | 33 | 21 | 9 | 2 | 1 | 45 |
| 2 | Kelowna Rockets | 31 | 18 | 10 | 1 | 2 | 39 |
| 3 | Victoria Royals | 28 | 16 | 10 | 2 | 0 | 34 |
| 4 | Vancouver Giants | 30 | 14 | 14 | 1 | 1 | 30 |
| 5 | Prince George Cougars | 31 | 7 | 20 | 1 | 3 | 18 |
2019-2020 Season Series vs. Vancouver Giants: 0-1-0-0
Sept. 29, 2019: KEL 0 at VAN 4
Dec. 18, 2019: VAN at KEL
Dec. 28, 2019: KEL at VAN
Jan. 25, 2020: KEL at VAN
Jan. 26, 2020: VAN at KEL
Mar. 20, 2020: KEL at VAN
Mar. 21, 2020: VAN at KEL
Players to watch
Kelowna
- Defenceman Conner McDonald was acquired from the Edmonton Oil Kings this past weekend. The 20-year-old is expected to make his debut with the Rockets tomorrow night. The Delta BC product set a single-season record for goals by an Oil Kings defenceman (19) in 2018-19 and is tied for first all-time in Oil Kings modern franchise history in goals by a defenceman (38).
- Overage centre Matthew Wedman was traded to the Rockets at the start of their prairie road trip, fans will have their first chance to see the former Seattle Thunderbirds captain lace them up as Prospera Place for the first time tomorrow. In six games with the rockets, he has two goals and three assists.
Vancouver
- Tristen Nielsen leads the Giants in points, goals and is tied for the team lead in assists, he has 31 points (15G, 16A) in 30 games this season.
- It was announced earlier this week that Justin Sourdif has been invited to play in the CHL NHL Top Prospects Game. The centre has 12 goals and 14 assists in 28 games this season.
Tickets are on sale at selectyourtickets.com, at the Prospera Place box office or by phone at 250-762-5050.
