Rockets ready for Tigers

Shoot the Breeze Photography

Game Night Preview: The Kelowna Rockets host the Medicine Hat Tigers at Prospera Place. It is the third and final meeting of the season between the two teams. The Rockets are 2-0-0-0 after a 4-0 win November 25^th and a 4-3 overtime victory last Friday in Medicine Hat. Cal Foote scored the game winner in the extra session. The Rockets are coming off a highly successful Alberta road trip last week where they earned a record of 2-0-1-0. All three games were decided in overtime, with the Rockets out-scoring the opponent 10-9. Two of the three games saw 15 year-old Cole Tisdale as the starting goaltender. Overall, the Rockets have won 13 of their last 17 games (12-4-1-0). The Rockets host the Everett Silvertips Friday before facing the Tips in Everett for the first time this season on Saturday. The Rockets are playing their 13^th game in 27 days this evening. After two games against Everett this weekend, the Rockets play 15 of their final 20 games against teams in the BC Division.

Kole Lind causing chaos: Kole Lind is riding an 18 game point streak. It is the third longest point streak in team history. Tyson Barrie had a 21 game point streak (5+28=33) in the 2009-2010 season. Brett McLean holds the record with a 24 game point streak (18+31=49) in the 1996-1997 campaign.  Lind has (14+20=34) over those 18 games and has the bragging rights of owning the third longest point streak in the WHL this season. The longest is held by Swift Current Broncos forward Aleksi Heponiemi, who went 28 games with a point.  

Broadcasters Notebook: The Rockets made a deal with the Lethbridge Hurricanes January 8^th, acquiring the playing rights to 19 year-old forward Ryan Bowen for a 8^th round bantam pick. Ryan Bowen is the older brother of prospect Ethan Bowen….The Rockets made a deal January 7^th with the Prince Albert Raiders, sending 17 year-old defenceman Konrad Belcourt to PA for a 5^th and 8^th round pick…The Rockets have 19 wins in their last 25 games….James Porter was named the WHL and CHL Goaltender of the Week ending December 31^st after posting a 2-0-0-0 record including one shutout with a goals against average of 0.48 and a save percentage of .987…The Rockets have four hat-tricks this season from Carsen Twarynski (vs. Portland/Prince George), and Kole Lind (Prince Albert/Kamloops)…The Rockets have sent 17 players to Canada’s roster at the World Junior… The Rockets had their 13 game home ice winning streak snapped January 5^th vs. Seattle.…The Rockets are 7 and 3 in overtime with game winners coming from Kole Lind (twice), Dillon Dube Carsen Twarynski (twice) and Cal Foote (twice). The only losses in OT came against the Tri City Americans, Portland Winterhawks and Red Deeer Rebels….Erik Gardiner has missed 35 games after being injured October 28^th vs. Prince George…: NHL Central Scouting has released its mid-term rankings. Forward Kyle Topping is rated 65^th among North American skaters. Defenceman Libor Zabransky is rated 110th…Dillon Dube has scored 20+ goals in three consecutive seasons. Dube had 20 goals last season in 40 games and had a career high 26 in 2015-2016. Dube is riding an 11 game point streak (9+11=20)…The Rockets won their 30^th game of the season last Wednesday in Lethbridge, marking the 11^th straight season the team has achieved that mark. The last time they fell short was in 2006-2007 when the team earned 22 victories…Liam Kindree is missing his 13^th straight game with a lower body injury.   

Milestones: Connor Bruggen-Cate played in his 100^th game December 30^th vs. Victoria…Kyle Topping played in his 100^th career game January 10^th…Jack Cowell played in his 100^th career game January 12^th in Seattle…Head Coach Jason Smith coached his 100^th career regular season game against the Kootenay Ice on December 2nd…Carsen Twarynski played in his 200^th career game October 28^th against the Prince George Cougars…James Hilsendager plays in his 200^th career game November 14^th vs. Oil Kings. 

Roster Stats:

Player total: 26

Year by Year Breakdown:

20’s (1997) – 3   Ballhorn, Twarynski, Hilsendager           

19’s (1998) - 5   Salmond, Lind, Dube, Cal Foote, Chizen

18’s (1999) - 6   Topping, Mattson, Gardiner, Bruggen-Cate, Cowell, Skvrne

17’s (2000) - 9   Porter, Foote, Zabransky, Kindree, Brennan, McGauley, Kushniryk, Pow, Hair

16’s (2001) - 2   Korczak, Basran

15’s (2002) - 1 Cole Tisdale

NHL Drafted Players: Cal Foote (Tampa Bay 2017), Kole Lind (Vancouver 2017), Dillon Dube (Calgary 2016), Carsen Twarynski (Philadelphia 2016), Brayden Chizen (Minnesota 2016).  

Game Notes Compiled by Regan Bartel of AM 1150