PREVIEW: Rockets to host two home games this long weekend
| Portland Winterhawks at Kelowna Rockets |
| Date | Time | Sat, Feb. 18, 2022 | 7:05 pm |
| Tickets | selectyourtickets.com |
| Video Stream | WHL Live on CHL TV |
| Radio | 104.7 The Lizard |
| Live Stats | WHL Box Score |
| Live Updates | @Kelowna_Rockets Twitter |
| Tri-City Americans at Kelowna Rockets |
| Date | Time | Mon, Feb. 20, 2022 | 2:05 pm |
| Tickets | selectyourtickets.com |
| Video Stream | WHL Live on CHL TV |
| Radio | 104.7 The Lizard |
| Live Stats | WHL Box Score |
| Live Updates | @Kelowna_Rockets Twitter |
| Next Game: | Fri., Feb. 24 at Edmonton |
The Kelowna Rockets will wrap up their five-game home stand with a pair of games this Family Day long weekend. The Portland Winterhawks will visit at 7:05 pm on Saturday, the Tri-City Americans will then stop in for a 2:05 pm matchup on the holiday Monday.
Monday’s game against Tri-City will be a Fan First Menu game with $2 hot dogs and $5-$6 options from Blue Ribbon. The Fan First Menu is available at all Monday to Wednesday regular season games.
The Rockets are coming off of a 5-2 win over the Everett Silvertips on Wednesday that saw them end a four-game losing streak. After a scoreless opening frame, the Rockets blew out of the gates in the second period with four unanswered goals. The Silvertips were able to get two back in the third period before Kelowna added an empty net goal.
Portland kicked off seven road games on Wednesday with a 6-2 loss to the Spokane Chiefs. Tied at one after one, Spokane scored four times in the second period to take a 5-1 lead into the third period. Dante Giannuzzi stopped 16 of the 21 shots he faced before being replaced by Jan Spunar.
The Winterhawks earned national recognition as an honourable mention on the 2022-23 Kia CHL Top 10 Rankings for Week 19.
Tri-City has a busy weekend, they’ll host Seattle on Friday and Spokane on Saturday before Monday’s game against Kelowna.
Tickets
Single-game tickets for all Rockets games are available at Select Your Tickets. Tickets can be purchased online through www.selectyourtickets.com, at the Prospera Place box office, or by phone at 250-762-5050.
Mini Packs are now on sale for the 2022-23 season, pick from between a six or twelve-game pack. Click here to learn more about Mini Packs.
The last time these two met
Portland
The Rockets and Winterhawks last saw each other on October 28th and 29th in Portland. Andrew Cristall’s overtime winner pushed the Rockets past the Winterhawks in the opening game, completing a 4-3 comeback. The next night they fell 5-3, tied at two after two the Winterhawks were able to pull away in the final frame.
Tri-City
Tri-City defeated Kelowna for the first time in four years back on December 3rd with a 5-1 win at the Toyota Center, their last win over the Rockets came back on October 13, 2018.
Roster Updates
- Defencemen John Babcock and Marek Rocak remain listed on the injury report as day-to-day with upper-body injuries
- Max Graham’s upper-body injury time is down to 1-2 weeks
- Logan Peskett suffered an upper-body injury in last Friday’s loss to Prince George, he’s listed as our for the next 2-3 weeks
- Will Munro and Ethan Mittelsteadt both missed Tuesday’s game due to injuries
- Forwards Ty Hurley and Andrew Cristall both returned to Kelowna’s lineup on Tuesday
- Affiliate player Landon Cowper remains up with the team
Click here to view the Rockets Injury Report.
Players to watch
Kelowna
- Andrew Cristall returned to the lineup on Wednesday after missing the previous 14 games with a lower-body injury, recording his first career hat trick and adding an empty net goal for his fourth on the night.
- Goaltender Jari Kykkanen made 41 saves on 43 shots Wednesday against the Silvertips, picking up his ninth win of the season.
Portland
- Nineteen-year-old forward James Stefan leads the Winterhawks in scoring with 58 points (21G, 37A) through 50 games this season.
- Gabe Klassen leads the Winterhawks in goals with 29, he recorded four goals against the Rockets back on September 24th.
Tri-City
- Defenceman Lukas Dragicevic is ranked 12th among North American skaters for the upcoming NHL Draft. He leads the Americans in scoring as of Friday morning with 60 points (12G, 47) through 51 games.
- Former Rocket Ethan Ernst leads the Ams in goals with 30 as of Friday afternoon.
Series at a glance
2022-23 Season Series vs POR (1-1-1-0)
| Sept. 24 | vs Portland | 6-5 OTL |
| Oct. 28 | @ Portland | 4-3 OTW |
| Oct. 29 | @Portland | 5-3 L |
| Feb. 18 | vs Portland | 7:05 pm |
2022-23 Season Series vs Tri-City (1-1-0-0)
| Nov. 19 | vs Tri-City | 5-3 W |
| Dec. 3 | @ Tri-City | 5-1 L |
| Feb 20 | vs Tri-City | 2:05 pm |
| Mar. 12 | @ Tri-City | 4:05 pm |
BC Division standings
as of Friday afternoon
| TEAM | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | PTS | |
| 1 | X – Kamloops Blazers | 49 | 33 | 10 | 4 | 2 | 72 |
| 2 | Prince George Cougars | 51 | 24 | 23 | 4 | 0 | 52 |
| 3 | Vancouver Giants | 51 | 20 | 25 | 4 | 2 | 46 |
| 4 | Kelowna Rockets | 51 | 18 | 30 | 3 | 0 | 39 |
| 5 | Victoria Royals | 53 | 15 | 32 | 5 | 1 | 36 |
US Division standings
as of Friday afternoon
| TEAM | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | PTS | |
| 1 | X – Seattle Thunderbirds | 50 | 39 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 80 |
| 2 | X- Portland Winterhawks | 52 | 36 | 12 | 2 | 2 | 76 |
| 3 | Everett Silvertips | 52 | 27 | 23 | 2 | 0 | 56 |
| 4 | Tri-City Americans | 51 | 25 | 20 | 4 | 2 | 56 |
| 5 | Spokane Chiefs | 51 | 10 | 35 | 2 | 4 | 26 |
Online 50/50
The Kelowna Rockets online 50/50 is back for the 2022-23 season!
The online 50/50 will give fans in Rockets fans located in British Columbia and those who are attending the game 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 Sheet + Game Day Program
Printed lineup sheets will not be available at games this season, they can be accessed online by visiting the game day program.
The Game Day Program will be available in the same spot, it comes complete with game notes, stats, team rosters and entry forms for the Rockets intermission contests.
The sheet and program will be uploaded by 3:00 p.m. on game days.
Mini Packs are now on sale for the 2022-23 season, pick from between a six or twelve-game pack. Click here to learn more about Mini Packs.
