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It’s that time of year again!
The boys in black, red and teal take to the ice for their first regular season game tonight, hosting the Kamloops Blazers at Prospera Place.
GAME DAY: Rockets are back in action for real tonight as they open the season vs. the Blazers. @Reganrant's notes: https://t.co/RF2JVcdBz7 🚀 pic.twitter.com/MyORvrNBiU
— Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets) September 22, 2017
The two teams met 10 times in the regular season last year, with Kelowna winning four games.
They met again in the first round of the playoffs, where the Rockets won another four games to end the Blazers’ season.
It should be another playoff season for the Rockets, who have an expectation to be playing into April every year, but it will be another challenging season in the B.C. Division.
The Prince George Cougars look poised for another run at the division title after winning their first in franchise history last season.
Meanwhile, the Kamloops Blazers and Victoria Royals are both perennial contenders in the division and should be right in the mix again this year.
Even the Vancouver Giants look to be making strides, which could lead to the B.C. Division being one of the most competitive in the WHL.
For the Rockets, they seem to be set up front and on the blue line, but their goaltending is very much up in the air.
Newly minted captain Cal Foote leads a veteran defense core that should give even the best offensive players in the league fits.
Beyond Foote, the blueline features 20-year-olds James Hilsendager, Gordie Ballhorn and Devante Stephens, along with 19-year-old Brayden Chizen.
There’s plenty of competition for that sixth spot, but Konrad Belcourt will likely be there to start the season with Libor Zabransky and Kaeden Korczak nipping at his heels.
Up front there is plenty of firepower, with Dillon Dube, Carsen Twarysnki, Tomas Soustal, Kole Lind and Erik Gardiner all returning as seasoned veterans.
They’ll be joined by a number of exciting young forwards, led by Nolan Foote, who continues to make a case to be a top 10 pick in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.
Other young forwards that will likely make a big impact this season include Kyle Topping, Liam Kindree and Leif Mattson.
Finally, in the crease, the departure of Michael Herringer has left Brodan Salmond as the team’s default starter.
The 19-year-old had solid stats as a backup the last couple of years, but whether he can take on the starting role is another question entirely.
He’ll be backed up by James Porter, the Rocket’s seventh-round Bantam Draft pick in 2015 out of Bonners Ferry, Idaho.
If one of Porter or Salmond doesn’t take a firm grasp of the starting job within the first few weeks of the season, expect Bruce Hamilton to explore other options through trade.
He’ll be busy in the first couple weeks of the season either way, as the Rockets’ GM either has to deal Tomas Soustal, or get rid of one of the team’s other overagers and import players.
Overall, the Jason Smith led Kelowna Rockets look to be in line for another great season and a potential playoff run in the spring, but only time will tell.
PREDICTIONS
- Record: 48-18-6 (1st in the B.C. Division)
- Leading scorer: Kole Lind (44-49-93)
- MVP: Cal Foote
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