Game Notes: Rockets at Blazers

TEAM NOTES PREPARED BY REGAN BARTEL OF AM 1150

• Tonight’s Preview: The Kelowna Rockets play their 40^th game of the season when they face the Kamloops Blazers. This is the 7^th meeting of the season between the two teams. The Rockets are 1-4-1-0 in the opening six games. The Rockets only win came November 16^th in a 4-3 home-ice victory. Three of the six games have been decided by a single goal. Rookie Jake Poole leads the team with 5 points (2+3=5) in the seasonal series. Nolan Foote has (1+3=4) four points in five games. Roman Basran is 1-4-1-0 against the Blazers, posting a goals-against-average of 3.77 and a save percentage of .897. Zane Franklin leads the Blazers with 13 points (4+9=13) in 6 games. The Rockets power play is just 2 for 30 (6.7%) in the seasonal series. The two teams meet tomorrow at Prospera Place. The Rockets are coming off a 1-0 loss to the Victoria Royals Wednesday night. It marked the fourth time this season the team has been shut out.

• The Golden Guy: Nolan Foote was recognized Wednesday before the game after helping Canada win gold at the World Junior Hockey Championships. The Rockets captain became the 10^th player in the organizations history to win gold at the prestigious event. On that list is Blake Comeau, Luke Schenn, Shea Weber, Jamie Benn, Tyler Myers, Madison Bowey, Josh Morrissey, Dillon Dube and Cal Foote.

• Broadcasters Notebook: The Rockets acquired 18-year-old d-man Tyson Feist Wednesday from the Regina Pats for a 4^th round pick…. The Rockets were 5-7-0-0 while Nolan Foote was at the World Junior Hockey Championships….Nolan Foote has 5 goals in his last 5 games… Matthew Wedman had four assists Sunday in Tri-City. Wedman’s only other four-point game came as a member of the Seattle Thunderbirds back on December 17, 2017, against Spokane (1+3=4)…The Rockets will play three games in three nights three times this month. They do it again January 17-19 before doing it again January 24^–26…The Rockets have played in 22-1 goal games this season, the most in the WHL.

• Digg’n Deep: The Rockets are 17-3 when opening the scoring….The Rockets are 9-11-1-1 against teams in the BC Division…The Rockets are 4 and 1 in overtime with game-winning goals coming from Dillon Hamaliuk, Nolan Foote, Kaedan Korczak and Liam Kindree….Head Coach Adam Foote is closing in on a milestone. Foote will coach in his 100^th game January 26^th, at home, vs. Vancouver….Conner McDonald is 4 assists shy of 100 for his career…Liam Kindree has 4+1=5 in his last 6 games.