Game Notes: Portland at Kelowna

TEAM NOTES PREPARED BY REGAN BARTEL OF AM 1150

• Tonight’s Preview: The Rockets open a five-game homestand tonight against the visiting Portland Winterhawks. The two teams meet tomorrow night for the rematch at Prospera Place. They met in late January in Portland, with the Rockets losing by scores of 7-0 and 3-2. The Rockets host the Winterhawks tonight and Saturday before welcoming Tri-City Wednesday and Red Deer next Saturday. The Calgary Hitmen pay a visit Monday, February 17^th for a 2 pm affair. The Rockets are coming off back-to-back losses to the Spokane Chiefs last weekend by scores of 7-3 and 6-0. Overall, the Rockets have lost three straight and 9 of their last 11 games. The team has 3 wins in its last 10 games at Prospera Place.

• Broadcasters Notebook: Kaedan Korczak is trying to become the first d-man to lead the team in scoring since Tyson Barrie did it during the 2009-2010 season. Barrie had 72 points. Korczak is tied for the team lead with 36 points…With 19 games left in the regular season, 12 are on home ice with only 7 on the road. Those road stops include two in Victoria, two in Prince George and singles in Everett, Kamloops and Vancouver…After returning for one game after playing for Canada at the World Junior Hockey Championship, Nolan Foote has missed 9 straight games with an injury. The Rockets are 8 and 14 in 22 games without him this season. Foote did not play against Portland in the two meetings in Oregon State last month….The Rockets are playing their 50^th game of the season tonight …..The Rockets are 8-6-0-0 against teams in the US Division….The Rockets are now 19-5-0-0 when scoring the games first goal…The Rockets have played in 24-1 goal games this season, the most in the WHL…The Rockets are 10-14-1-1 against teams in the BC Division…The Rockets are 6 and 1 in overtime with game-winning goals coming from Matthew Wedman, Dillon Hamaliuk, Nolan Foote, Kaedan Korczak (twice) and Liam Kindree…..Jake Lee is one point shy of the 24 he recorded last season with Seattle…Alex Swetlikoff is the only player on the roster that has a chance to dress in all 68 games this season…If the playoffs began tonight, the Rockets would face the Kamloops Blazers in the opening round…Last weekend, rookie forward Turner McMillen became the first player to suit up for the Rockets, following in his father’s footsteps. Dave McMillen was the captain of the Rockets when they were based in Tacoma in the ’90s.