KELOWNA HEADS TO PG FOR DOUBLE-HEADER
The Kelowna Rockets will look to extend its winning streak as well as its domination of the Prince George Cougars Friday night with the opening of back to back games against the Cougars in Prince George.
The Rockets enter the weekend series in Prince George having won seven straight games to climb 10 games over .500 (30-20-0-0). Since losing its home opener to the Cougars, Kelowna has rattled off six straight wins over Prince George.
The two games in PG will mark the end of the season series and the Rockets are expecting the Cougars to be tough to beat.
“Going in there for two games it’s always difficult to win them both,” said Rockets assistant Dan Lambert. “They’re a hard working team and they have skill. They are a different team that what they have shown the last couple times here.”
Those games, a 7-3 win Jan. 29 and a 6-2 decision Jan. 19, were both at Prospera Place in Kelowna where the Rockets have been excellent this season.
On the road Kelowna is coming off of three straight wins in Seattle, Spokane and Tri-City. Still Lambert said sweeping two games in an opposition building isn’t an easy task.
“The thing about playing in Prince George is that road trip takes a little out of you, it takes its toll and that doesn’t help with winning,” he said. “But we’ve been playing well and we’re looking forward to the challenge.”
Kelowna extended its winning streak to seven games with Wednesday night’s 6-4 win over Chilliwack. The team is in a heated battle for first in the WHL BC division with Vancouver and is also in the midst of a stretch of nine games in 11 that are against teams in the BC division.
Heading into Friday’s action the Giants are a point ahead of Kelowna with the Rockets holding three games in hand. Vancouver is in Calgary Friday night.
“Getting first in the division is important because it gives you that top seed and allows you to avoid the top three teams in the first round of the playoffs,” said head coach Ryan Huska.
Kelowna and Prince George will also play Saturday night in Prince George. The Rockets return home next Friday when they begin a home and home series with Chilliwack.
