Rockets vs. Hurricanes

Brodan Salmond may get first start since November 4th

Game Night Preview: The Kelowna Rockets host the Lethbridge Hurricanes for the second of three times this season. The seasonal series closes January 24^th in Lethbridge. These two teams met back on November 17^th in the Rockets 7-4 home ice win. Dillon Dube scored twice while Cal Foote had four assists. The Rockets are coming off a 3-2 road loss Saturday in Vancouver. Connor-Bruggen-Cate and Leif Mattson scored in the loss, the teams’ first road setback in six games. Overall, the Rockets have won 9 of their last 11 games with wins over Prince Albert, Saskatoon, Kamloops (twice), Victoria, Tri City, Calgary, Spokane and Seattle. The Rockets are in Seattle Friday before hosting the Victoria Royals Saturday night.

Tidbits: The Rockets faced Hurricanes goaltender Logan Flodell when he was a member of the Swift Current Broncos. Flodell made 37 saves in a 5-1 win back on December 13^th…Hurricanes 20 year-old Brad Morrison is the brother-in-law to former Kelowna Rockets captain Josh Gorges…Lethbridge defenceman Calen Addison is representing the WHL at the CHL Top Prospect Game later this month in Guelph, Ontario. The Rockets have no players participating in the game.

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 15 wins in their last 20 games with those four losses coming to Moose Jaw, Brandon, Swift Current, Tri City and Vancouver…The Rockets record after 43 games this season is 27-13-2-1. Last season the hockey club was 25-15-3-0 after 43 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 (two vs. Portland/one vs. Prince George), and Kole Lind (vs. Prince Albert and Kamllops)…Lind had three goals in a game against the Kamloops Blazers in December, 2015…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 4 and 2 in overtime with game winners coming from Kole Lind, Dillon Dube Carsen Twarynski (twice). The only loss in OT came against the Tri City Americans and Portland Winterhawks…The Rockets are 12-4-0-0 against BC Division teams this season….The Rockets are 21-1-0-1 when leading after 2 periods…The Rockets are 20-3-1-1 when scoring the first goal of the game….Erik Gardiner has missed 29 games after being injured October 28^th vs. Prince George…The Rockets were 9-4 without Dube at the World Junior’s….Kole Lind is riding a 12 game point streak. Lind has 9+13=22 over that stretch….Carsen Twarynski has 5 goals in his last 6 games….Kyle Topping has points in 11 of his last 13 games. Not bad for an 11^th round WHL bantam pick…Upcoming birthdays: January 27th, Wil Kushniryk, January 28^th, Ted Brennan, January 29^th - Kaedan Korczak.    

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: 25

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

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