Preview: Royals at Rockets
The Kelowna Rockets will be looking to build on their two-game win streak and make a push to move up in the B.C. Division startings when they host the Victoria Royals on Wednesday night for Hat-Trick Wednesday.
Purchase the Hat-Trick deal before 2:00 p.m. on game day to receive a pop and hot dog with your ticket for $19.99 (plus taxes and fees). Tickets are on sale at selectyourtickets.com, at the Prospera Place box office or by phone at 250-762-5050.
As of Tuesday, the Rockets sit third in the B.C. Division with 64 points and six games remaining. The Victoria Royals and Vancouver Giants are tied for second with 70 points. The Royals have five games left, while the Giants have six.
The remaining schedule for all three teams is in the table below:
| Date | Kelowna | Victoria | Vancouver |
| Wed., Mar 11 | vs. Victoria | @Kelowna | |
| Fri., March 13 | @ Kamloops | vs. Prince George | vs. Seattle |
| Sat., March 14 | vs. Kamloops | vs. Prince George | @ Seattle |
| Sun., March 15 | vs. Prince George | ||
| Wed., March 18 | vs. Prince George | vs. Kamloops | |
| Fri., March 20 | @Vancouver | @Everett | vs. Kelowna |
| Sat., March 21 | vs. Vancouver | vs. Everett | @ Kelowna |
The Rockets are coming off of a wild 5-4 victory over the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Saturday night. The ‘Canes scored three unanswered goals in the third period to stage a comeback, but the Rockets were able to hold off Dylan Cozens and co.
Victoria dropped both of their games to the Western Conference-leading Portland Winterhawks on the weekend. They fell 5-4 in overtime on Saturday and 4-1 on Sunday.
Nolan Flamand remains up with the Rockets, the 2004-born forward made his WHL debut last Friday against the Seattle Thunderbirds. Kelowna will be without Sean Comrie, Michael Farren, Liam Kindree and Nolan Foote.
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Dillon Hamaliuk is listed as day-to-day with a lower-body injury.
The Royals are also dealing with injuries. Goaltender Shane Farkas is listed as week-to-week with an upper-body injury, he has been out since January 24. Riley Gannon is out with an injury that’s timeline is tbd. Noah Lamb, Ty Yoder and Graeme Bryks are all listed as day-to-day.
B.C. Division Standings
| # | Team | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | PTS |
| 1 | xy – Kamloops Blazers | 62 | 41 | 17 | 3 | 1 | 86 |
| 2 | x – Victoria Royals | 63 | 31 | 24 | 6 | 2 | 70 |
| 3 | x – Vancouver Giants | 62 | 32 | 24 | 4 | 2 | 70 |
| 4 | x – Kelowna Rockets | 62 | 29 | 27 | 3 | 3 | 64 |
| 5 | Prince George Cougars | 62 | 20 | 34 | 4 | 4 | 48 |
2019-2020 record vs Victoria Royals: 3-3-0-1
Oct. 29, 2019: KEL 3 at VIC 4 SO
Oct. 30, 2019: KEL 1 at VIC 0
Nov. 6, 2019: VIC 6 at KEL 3
Nov. 20, 2019: VIC 1 at KEL 4
Jan. 3, 2020: VIC 2 at KEL 1
Jan. 8, 2020: VIC 1 at KEL 0
Feb. 21, 2020: KEL 3 at VIC 2
Feb. 22, 2020: KEL 3 at VIC 4 SO
Mar. 11, 2020: VIC at KEL
Players to watch:
Kelowna
- Pavel Novak leads the Rockets in points against the Royals this season with six (3G, 3A). In addition to leading the Rockets in points, the 17-year-old rookie import is third in the WHL rookie scoring race with 57 points (25G, 32A).
- Rookie Trevor Wong recorded his second multi-point game of the season, picking up a goal and an assist on Saturday against the Hurricanes. The 16-year-old, former first-round pick, has 14 points (6G, 8A) in 57 games.
Victoria
- Brayden Tracey, who was acquired at the trade deadline, leads the Royals skaters in points with 59 (21G, 38A) in 51 games. Since joining Victoria, Tracey has 21 points (6G, 15A) in 23 games.
- Overage forward Gary Haden leads the Royals in goals with 24. He sits second in team scoring with 54 points in 61 games played.
