Rockets look to launch as they round out regular season
The Kelowna Rockets will round out their regular schedule season this weekend when they play the B.C. Division-leading, Vancouver Giants in a home and home series.
The Rockets will travel to Langley to face the Giants Friday night at Langley Events Centre, puck drop is set for 7:30pm. Following Friday night’s tilt, the two head back to Kelowna to wrap up their regular seasons at Prospera Place, game time is 7:05pm.
Kelowna came back from a three-goal deficit to force overtime against the Spokane Chiefs Wednesday night at Prospera Place. The Rockets picked up an important point in the 6-5 overtime loss. Assistant captain, Nolan Foote says the Rockets ability to fight back will help the team in the long run.
“That comeback is definitely a positive going into Friday,” said Foote. “There’s no rest off for anyone, we need to move on. We need everyone because it’s a big weekend and we’re very tight with Kamloops. Our veteran players have to step up continue that.”
Kelowna has already played the Vancouver seven times this season, the Giants hold the edge in the season series.
Vancouver and Kelowna met twice during October. The Giants downed the Rockets on both occasions; 5-0 at Prospera Place on October 3rd, and 3-1 October 21st at the Langley Events Centre.
The next two games were closer, Vancouver defeated the Rockets by a score of 2-1 on November 28th and again on January 26th. The Rockets claimed their first victory in the series on January 27th at the Langley Events Centre where Leif Mattson scored the shootout-winning goal.
The Giants blanked the Rockets 2-0 at Prospera Place on February 16th. The two last played on March 1st in a goal-filled affair where Nolan Foote had two goals in the Rockets 7-4 loss at the Langley Events Centre.
The Rockets currently sit in third place in the B.C. Division with a record of 27-31-6-2 and 62 points. They’re 18 points ahead of the Prince George Cougars who are in fifth place with 44 points. Kelowna is a single point up on the fourth-placed Kamloops Blazers, the Blazers also have two games remaining. The Victoria Royals are eight points in front of the Rockets, the Royals have clinched a playoff spot with 70 points. The Vancouver Giants are currently in a race with the Everett Silvertips for the top spot in the Western Conference, the Giants are two points ahead of the Tips with 98.
Kelowna will wear a special superhero-themed jersey during Saturday night’s game. A live draw will take place during one of the intermissions to decide which fans will be taking home a jersey, after the game the fans will head to the ice to receive the jersey from the player. Tickets are on sale at selectyourtickets.com, at the Prospera Place box office or by phone at 250-762-5050.
