GAME DAY: KELOWNA AND CHILLIWACK BACK AT IT FOR TWO
The Kelowna Rockets and Chilliwack Bruins renew rivalries tonight in Kelowna with the first game in what should be an exciting home and home series between the Western Hockey League rivals.
The Rockets will look to rebound from two straight losses in Prince George last weekend while the Bruins will try to gain ground in the race for a playoff position, renewing what’s been a physical series.
In terms of importance, the weekend set, and Sunday’s third game in Everett, are huge.
“You hate to look at certain weekends or a two game home set as crucial but I think it’s important that the teams that are behind you in the standings you have to beat,” said Rockets coach Ryan Huska. “I think the important thing for us is to win our games and hopefully it lines-up at the end of the year where we want it to be.”
In terms of rivalries the Rockets-Bruins seemed to ratchet it up a notch in their last meting, a 6-4 win by Kelowna Feb 2 at Prospera Place. It’s likely due to the familiarity amongst the teams. Bruins forward Curt Gogol played two seasons in Kelowna before ending up in Chilliwack. Of course head coach Mark Habscheid won the Memorial Cup as the Rockets head coach in 2004. Huska was his assistant for two years including the Memorial Cup winner.
But in the BC division rivalries are not at a shortage.
“We view (Chilliwack) very similar to the way we look at Kamloops and the way we look at Vancouver,” said Huska. “They’re close in distance and every game we have played with them has been tight which makes for a stronger rivalry. We’re expecting it to continue.”
The Rockets have won three of four meetings between the two teams. Two games were decided by a single goal while the win eight days ago was a bruising affair. Not only does Kelowna play two straight against a BC division opponent for the second straight weekend, the club will also play on Sunday, heading to Everett for a 5 p.m. start on Sunday.
After a solid week of practice it also marks the beginning of a busy stretch of games as the WHL heads towards the playoffs. Kelowna has 20 games remaining in its schedule to be played out in 36 days. It’s a time of the year when the hockey gets more intense as playoff position is on the line.
“We tell our players that there are 20 games remaining and this is the time of the year where everyone picks up their game,” said Huska.
Kelowna heads into the weekend 12 points ahead of Chilliwack and three points behind Vancouver. In the race for first in the BC division, the Rockets can gain ground Friday night, picking up one of three games in hand on the idle Giants.
Rockets forwards Mitchell Callahan and Colton Sissons are both questionable for Friday’s game after sitting out both games in Prince George last weekend.
