Preview: Rockets at Chiefs – Nov. 24/21
Kelowna Rockets at Spokane Chiefs |
Date | Time | Nov. 24, 2021 | 7:08 pm |
Video Stream | WHL Live on CHL TV |
Radio | AM 1150 |
Live Stats | WHL Box Score |
Live Updates | @Kelowna_Rockets Twitter |
Next Game | Fri, Nov. 26 vs SPO – 7:05 pm |
The Kelowna Rockets will be looking to start a new streak on Wednesday night when face off against the Spokane Chiefs at the Spokane Veterans Memorial Arena in Spokane, Wa.
The Rockets eight-game point streak came to an end on Saturday when the Portland Winterhawks dealt Kelowna their first regulation loss since October 29, defeating them 4-2 in Portland.
The Winterhawks jumped out to an early 4-0 lead, chasing Colby Knight from the Rockets net before the midway point of the opening frame. Colton Dach and Turner McMillen scored for Kelowna in the second frame, the Winterhawks then pressed to hold off a Rockets comeback. Kelowna’s power play came up blank in the game going zero-for-six, including three straight attempts in the last half of the third period. Talyn Boyko stopped all 22 shots he faced in relief of Knight.
Spokane will enter Wednesday night’s game searching for their first win in six games, four of those games were played against the Everett Silvertips, who remain undefeated in regulation this season with a record of 15-0-0-1.
The Chiefs were last in action on Saturday where they fell 4-1 to the Silvertips. Yannick Proske scored the lone goal for Spokane.
Spokane leading scorer forward Luke Toporowski has been suspended for three games, he’ll miss Wednesday and Friday’s games against Kelowna.
The Rockets will be without head coach Kris Mallette, forward Andrew Cristall and defenceman Caden Price. The trio have departed for the the Capital City Challenge, a four-team tournament featuring Canada’s National Women’s Team and three national men’s under-17 teams at TD Place Arena, home of the Ottawa 67’s of the Ontario Hockey League.
The Capital City Challenge will serve as a one-time event to replace the World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, which was cancelled due to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, while providing an opportunity for Canada’s National Women’s Team to compete as part of its centralization schedule.
Click here to learn more about the Capital City Challenge.
The Kelowna Rockets have called up forward Grady Lenton and defenceman Logan Dochuk to join the team as affiliate players.
Lenton will wear #26, Dochuk will wear #8.
TALE OF THE TAPE
Spokane Chiefs (3-9-2-0 – 8 points)5th U.S. Division
Power Play: 11/55 – 20.0% Penalty Kill: 52/63 – 82.5% Last Ten: 2-7-1-0 Streak: 0-5-1-0 GF: 38 GA: 50 PIM: 180 |
Kelowna Rockets (8-4-0-2 – 18 points)2nd B.C. Division
Power Play: 12/46 – 26.1% Penalty Kill: 41/51 – 80.4% Last Ten: 6-2-0-2 Streak: 0-1-0-1 GF: 53 GA: 51 PIM: 168 |
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Kelowna:
- Grady Lenton, the Rockets eighth round pick in the 2020 WHL Draft, is expected to make his WHL debut. He is currently the BC Elite Hockey League’s U18 AAA leading scorer with 23 points (8G, 15A) and 36 penalty minutes over 17 games with the Greater Vancouver Canadians.
- Defenceman Logan Dochuk is also expected to make his WHL debut. A sixth round pick of the Rockets in the WHL Draft, Dochuk has posted three assists in 13 games for the OHA Edmonton U18 Prep this season in the CSSHL.
Spokane:
- Tampa Bay Lightning prospect and Kelowna product Jack Finley has 11 points (5G, 6A) in 14 games this season after missing all of last season due to a shoulder injury.
- Washington Capitals prospect Bear Hughes has posted nine points (4G, 5A) through ten games this season.
B.C. DIVISION STANDINGS
# | Team | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | PTS |
1 | Kamloops Blazers | 16 | 14 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 28 |
2 | Kelowna Rockets | 14 | 8 | 4 | 0 | 2 | 18 |
3 | Vancouver Giants | 15 | 7 | 7 | 1 | 0 | 15 |
4 | Prince George Cougars | 17 | 7 | 10 | 0 | 0 | 14 |
5 | Victoria Royals | 15 | 2 | 11 | 2 | 0 | 6 |
U.S. DIVISION STANDINGS
# | Team | GP | W | L | OTL | SOL | PTS |
1 | Everett Silvertips | 16 | 15 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 31 |
2 | Seattle Thunderbirds | 17 | 11 | 5 | 1 | 0 | 23 |
3 | Portland Winterhawks | 18 | 7 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 16 |
4 | Tri-City Americans | 14 | 4 | 8 | 2 | 0 | 10 |
5 | Spokane Chiefs | 14 | 3 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 8 |
as of Tuesday afternoon
SEASON SERIES (0-0-0-0)
Nov. 24 | @ Spokane | 7:05 PM |
Nov. 26 | vs Spokane | 7:05 PM |
Feb. 4 | @ Spokane | 7:05 PM |
WATCH AND LISTEN
You can watch all Rockets games on WHL Live on CHL TV. More are details available by visiting watch.CHL.ca.
You can also listen to the game on AM1550.
The Rockets next home game is Friday, Nov. 26 when the Spokane Chiefs will travel to Kelowna to face the Rockets. Kelowna will then host the Prince George Cougars the next night at Prospera Place on Saturday. An on-sale date for single-game tickets is expected to be announced in the coming days.