Rockets host Giants, Rebels in two game weekend
The Kelowna Rockets get set to take on the Vancouver Giants on Friday night at Prospera Place before hosting the Red Deer Rebels on Saturday.
Head Coach Jason Smith is looking for his club to enter Friday night ready to play a full 60 minutes.
“We want to play a complete game. Lately we’ve done a better job of competing and playing for 60 minutes, and that’s going to be our focal point from the start,” Smith said. “We just have to make sure we’re working hard and playing as a team from start to finish.”
The Rockets and Giants haven’t met thus far this regular season, but the two faced each other a total of eight times last season, with Kelowna posting a 7-1-0-0 record vs. Vancouver.
Kelowna has a less familiar foe coming to Prospera Place on Saturday night, as the Red Deer Rebels come through the Okanagan. Smith says they’ve studied the Rebels and they feel confident entering Saturday.
“We watch video beforehand and see what their tendencies are and come up with a game plan based on that,” said Smith. “We need to worry about what we’re doing, and we need to make sure our execution and our systematic play is where it needs to be, if we do those things we’ll be able to have success.”
The Rockets were 1-1-0-0 against the Rebels last season.
Kelowna enters the weekend with a record of 8-6-2-1 that gives them 19 points, four above the third place Giants, who have a record of 6-8-1-2.
Red Deer has an 8-9-1-0 record tying them for second place in the Central Division with 17 points, three behind Medicine Hat for first.
Puck drop on both Friday and Saturday is at 7:05pm.
This weekend marks the start of a four game home stand for Kelowna. Following Saturday night the Rockets host the Edmonton Oil Kings on Tuesday, November 14th and then the Lethbridge Hurricanes on Friday, November 17th.
Tickets are available for Rockets home games through selectyourtickets.com, at the Prospera Place box office or by phone at 250-762-5050.
