Preview: Silvertips vs Rockets
The Kelowna Rockets will return home from a four-game road trip to host the Everett Silvertips for the first game of a home-and-home series tomorrow night at Prospera Place.
Tomorrow night is also the Rockets Purolator Tackle Hunger game. By making a cash donation to the Central Okanagan Food Bank you’ll receive a mini stick, and a chance to win an autographed team jersey.
Kelowna is returning home from a successful road trip that saw the team pick up 7 of a possible 8 points over a four-game span. Last night the Rockets rallied in the third period to down the Cougars 5-4.
The Rockets will once again be without Nolan Foote, the Rockets captain departed last week for New Jersey to meet with the Devils medical staff.
Sean Comrie (upper-body/week-to-week), Liam Kindree (upper-body/seven-to-eight weeks) and Michael Farren (upper-body/week-to-week) will also be out of the lineup for the Rockets.
The Silvertips moved up from seventh to sixth in the week 23 edition of the Kia CHL Top-10 Rankings for the 2019-20 season. The weekly rankings of the CHL’s Top-10 teams are selected by a panel of National Hockey League scouts.
Everett is on a six-game winning streak. Their latest win came last night with an 8-1 victory over the Tri-City Americans.
B.C. Division Standings
| # | Team | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | PTS |
| 1 | X – Kamloops Blazers | 56 | 35 | 17 | 3 | 1 | 74 |
| 2 | X – Victoria Royals | 58 | 30 | 21 | 5 | 2 | 67 |
| 3 | X – Vancouver Giants | 56 | 30 | 21 | 3 | 2 | 65 |
| 4 | Kelowna Rockets | 58 | 27 | 26 | 2 | 3 | 59 |
| 5 | Prince George Cougars | 57 | 17 | 32 | 4 | 4 | 42 |
U.S. Division Standings
| # | Team | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | PTS |
| 1 | X – Portland Winterhawks | 57 | 40 | 10 | 3 | 4 | 87 |
| 2 | X -Everett Silvertips | 57 | 41 | 12 | 3 | 1 | 86 |
| 3 | X- Spokane Chiefs | 58 | 35 | 18 | 4 | 1 | 75 |
| 4 | Seattle Thunderbirds | 58 | 23 | 28 | 4 | 3 | 53 |
| 5 | Tri-City Americans | 57 | 17 | 35 | 4 | 1 | 39 |
2019-2020 Season Series vs. Everett Silvertips: 1-1-0-0
Sept. 28, 2019: Everett 1 at Kelowna 5
Jan. 17, 2020: Kelowna 2 at Everett 3
Feb. 28, 2020: Everett at Kelowna
Feb. 29, 2020: Kelowna at Everett
Players to watch:
Kelowna
- Matthew Wedman has 14 points (seven goals, seven assists) in the last eight games played. The 20-year-old centre had two goals and an assist against the Cougars last night.
- Winger Dillon Hamaliuk is on a hot streak, the San Jose Sharks prospect has six points (5G, 5A) in his last five games.
Everett
- Defenceman Jake Christiansen has been ripping up the league since being released from his professional tryout offer with the AHL’s Stockton Heat in early December. The 20-year-old has 46 points (20G, 26A) in 32 games and with the Silvertips this season.
- Calgary Flames prospect Dustin Wolf was named the Eli Wilson Goaltending WHL Goaltender of the Week for last week. Wolf has appeared in 41 games this season, posting a 30-9-2-0 record, 1.84 goals against average, a .938 save percentage and nine shutouts.
Tickets are on sale at selectyourtickets.com, at the Prospera Place box office or by phone at 250-762-5050.
