GAME DAY: Rockets at Kamloops
r Defenceman Tyson Barrie and the rest of the Rockets had a full week of practice leading up to this weekend's games aginast rival Kamloops. Marissa Baecker (shotthebreeze.ca) photo.
r
r By Kevin Parnell – kelownarockets.com
r
r The Kelowna Rockets and Kamloops Blazers will kick off a home and home series this weekend with a game tonight in Kamloops at the Interior Savings Centre.
r The Rockets are looking for their first win of the season after suffering an overtime loss to Vancouver and a road loss at the hands of Tri-City last weekend.
r
r The Rockets had a full week of practice to prepare for the weekend which will include a home game on Saturday night as the two rivals head back to Kelowna for a 7 p.m. face-off Saturday night at Prospera Place.
r
r Last weekend saw the return of veterans Tyson Barrie and Brandon McMillan to the Rockets lineup. Both players arrived back from NHL camps just in time to play with Barrie flying in hours before the season opener while McMillan met the team in Tri City. Coach Ryan Huska said it was nice having both guys around for the full week of practice.
r
r “It was a good week,” said Huska. “We were able to have Brandon and Tyson back for a full week. When you have some of the older guys returning to your lineup it helps with an understanding of the systems we have. It was a good week. Now it’s important to take that into the weekend.”
r
r The Blazers are off to a 2-and-0 start after sweeping a home and home series with Chilliwack last weekend, winning 4-3 in Chilliwack and 4-2 in Kamloops.
r
r Here’s a closer look at the matchup heading into tonights game between Kelowna and Kamloops:
r
r Who’s Hot:
r Rockets right wing Stepan Novotny had a four goal night to open the season but was held off the scoresheet in the 6-1 loss to Tri City. Defenceman Tyson Barrie had a point in each of the games while Mitchell Callahan had three points on opening weekend.
r Kamloops right wing Tyler Shattock had three goals and two assists in the Blazers first two games while C.J. Stretch and Shayne Wiebe each had four points.
r
r In Net:
r Adam Brown played both games last weekend and faced 75 shots for the Rockets. Brown will get the call for the Rockets for the third straight game. For Kamloops goaltenders Justin Leclerc and Jon Groenheyde split the Blazers first two games.
r
r What’s the Key:
r “It’s going to be important to keep our game simple,” said Huska. “We have to make sure we work very hard and try to use our speed up front when we can. We have to be much better in our own end.”
r
r The Rivalry:
r The Rockets and Blazers will play eight times this season. Six games will be featured in weekend home and home series. Following this weekend the two teams won’t play again until Nov. 7 in Kamloops. Jan. 8 and 9 and Feb. 12 and 13 are the dates of the next two home and homes.
r
r Who’s missing:
r The Rockets remain without Colin Long and Tyler Myers. Long remains with the Phoenix Coyotes AHL affiliate in San Antonio awaiting a possible pro contract or an assignment back to Kelowna. Myers played 19 minutes in the Sabres previous NHL exhibition game on Tuesday. The Sabres are back in action tonight.
r
r Face-off tonight:
r 7 p.m.
r
r
