Preview: Rockets to wrap up regular season schedule this weekend
| Kelowna Rockets at Vancouver Giants |
| Date | Time | Fri, Apr. 15, 2022 | 7:30 pm |
| Video Stream | WHL Live on CHL TV |
| Radio | AM 1150 |
| Live Stats | WHL Box Score |
| Live Updates | @Kelowna_Rockets Twitter |
| Kelowna Rockets vs Prince George Cougars |
| Date | Time | Sat, Apr. 16, 2022 | 7:05 pm |
| Home Game # | 29 |
| Video Stream | WHL Live on CHL TV |
| Radio | AM 1150 |
| Live Stats | WHL Box Score |
| Live Updates | @Kelowna_Rockets Twitter |
| Next Game | Fri, Apr. 22 @ Sea – 7:05 pm |
The Kelowna Rockets will wrap up their 2021-22 regular-season schedule with a pair of games this weekend.
The Rockets will face the Vancouver Giants on Friday night at the Langley Events Centre before finishing up the regular season on Saturday against the Prince George Cougars on Saturday at Prospera Place.
Both games were rescheduled from pauses due to Covid-19 earlier in the season.
Season ticket holders, please use your home game number 29 ticket on Saturday. Single-game ticket holders tickets from the original date of the game will be valid at the door.
The Rockets were last in action last Sunday with back-to-back games against the Giants – it’s the Rockets third straight game against the Giants. They fell 3-2 to Vancouver on Sunday, ending their six-game win streak. Max Graham and Colton Dach pulled the Rockets within one goal twice, but it wasn’t enough as the Giants pushed past the Rockets for two much-needed points in their race to secure one of the final playoff spots in the Western Conference. Jari Kykkanen made 22 saves on 25 shots for the Rockets, while 15-year-old affiliate goaltender Matthew Hutchison stopped 27 of 29 to pick up his first WHL victory.
Vancouver last played on Wednesday, they were blanked 6-0 by the Seattle Thunderbirds.
TICKETS
Tickets for all Rockets games, including the first two home games of the playoffs, 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.
THE PLAYOFF PICTURE
Both Vancouver and Prince George are fighting for one of the final three playoff spots in the Western Conference.
- As of Thursday, Vancouver sits in 6th with 52 points. They’ll host the Rockets on Friday, then head to Kamloops on Saturday for their final game of the season.
- Prince George and the Spokane Chiefs currently sit in the final spots as of Thursday, they’re tied for 7th with 51 points. Spokane will visit the Victoria Royals to play back-to-back games in Victoria on Friday and Saturday. Prince George will face the Blazers on the road Friday the Rockets on Saturday.
- The Victoria Royals are currently on the outside looking in with 50 points.
Meanwhile, the Rockets have secured their spot in the playoffs. The opening round matchup between the fourth-seeded Seattle Thunderbirds and the fifth-ranked Rockets will commence with Game 1 on Friday, April 22 at the accesso ShoWare Center.
Single-game tickets for the first two home games of Round 1 of the 2022 Western Hockey League Playoffs at Prospera Place went on sale on Thursday, April 14 at 11 AM at Select Your Tickets. For more information about the playoff schedule and ticketing, click here.
WHO TO WATCH
KELOWNA
- Colton Dach was named the WHL Player of the Week for the week ending April 10, 2022. The Chicago Blackhawks prospect led all WHL skaters with 10 points (3G-7A) in four outings with the Rockets this past week including a career-best five-point effort Saturday, April 9. Over the weekend he passed Pavel Novak for the team lead in scoring, he currently sits at 74 points (28G, 46A) through 59 games. Dach is currently riding a seven-game point streak that has seen him post seven goals and twelve assists.
- The race for the Rockets scoring title between Dach and Pavel Novak will be decided this weekend. Entering Friday, Dach has 74 points, while Novak sits at 72.
- Andrew Cristall set a new franchise record for goals in a season by a 16-year-old with 26 last weekend against the Giants. The Vancouver product has another chance to make history this weekend, he sits at 65 points – four back of Shane McColgan’s record of 69 set back in 2009-10.
- Mark Liwiski, Jake Lee and Tyson Feist will play their final WHL regular-season games, the trio of 20-year-olds will age out at the end of this season.
ROSTER UPDATES
The Rockets announced earlier this week that forward Scott Cousins will be out at least the next six-to-eight weeks with a fractured with, he suffered the injury on April 5th against the Cougars.
Injury updates for all WHL teams can be found in the WHL Weekly Report. The injury report is not available during the playoffs.
WESTERN CONFERENCE STANDINGS
| # | Team | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | PTS |
| 1 | Y Everett Silvertips | 66 | 45 | 11 | 5 | 5 | 100 |
| 2 | Y Kamloops Blazers | 67 | 47 | 16 | 3 | 0 | 97 |
| 3 | X Portland Winterhawks | 67 | 46 | 16 | 3 | 2 | 97 |
| 4 | X Seattle Thunderbirds | 67 | 43 | 18 | 4 | 2 | 92 |
| 5 | X Kelowna Rockets | 66 | 40 | 20 | 1 | 5 | 86 |
| 6 | Vancouver Giants | 66 | 24 | 38 | 4 | 0 | 52 |
| T7 | Spokane Chiefs | 66 | 23 | 38 | 4 | 1 | 51 |
| T7 | Prince George Cougars | 66 | 23 | 38 | 4 | 1 | 51 |
| 9 | Victoria Royals | 66 | 22 | 38 | 5 | 1 | 50 |
| 10 | Tri-City Americans | 66 | 18 | 42 | 6 | 0 | 42 |
AS OF THURSDAY AFTERNOON
SEASON SERIES
VS VANCOUVER
| Oct. 23 | @ Vancouver | 2-0 L |
| Oct. 29 | @ Vancouver | 7-2 L |
| Nov. 3 | vs. Vancouver | 7-6 OTW |
| Dec. 1 | vs. Vancouver | 5-3 L |
| Jan. 2 | @ Vancouver | 4-3 OTL |
| Jan. 28 | @ Vancouver | 6-0 W |
| Jan. 29 | vs. Vancouver | 3-1 W |
| Mar. 5 | vs. Vancouver | 5-3 W |
| Mar. 6 | @ Vancouver | 5-4 W |
| Apr. 9 | vs Vancouver | 8-4 W |
| Apr. 10 | vs Vancouver | 3-2 L |
| Apr. 15 | @ Vancouver | 7:30 PM |
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 | 9-2 W |
| Apr. 5 | @ Prince George | 1-0 OTW |
| Apr. 6 | @ Prince George | 4-1 W |
| Apr. 16 | vs Prince George | 7:05 PM |
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.
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 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 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.
Prospera Place announced last week that guests in attendance will no longer have to show proof of vaccination in adherence with the new B.C. provincial guidelines. Face coverings will continue to be optional when attending a Rockets game, concerts, shows, and other events at Prospera Place.
