The Kelowna Rockets will host the Vancouver Giants on Wednesday night for another Hat Trick Wednesday.
Fresh off of a 5-2 victory over the Prince George Cougars on Saturday, Rockets assistant coach Kris Mallette said it was nice to get a win, but his team needs to continue progressing every night.
“Yes, it’s great to get that first win, but by no means are we satisfied as a team. It’s our expectation to continue to work hard and get better everyday and our game Saturday was a good start,” Mallette said. “In watching Vancouver’s previous games, they’re a quick skilled team so our preparation doesn’t change; we’ll need to skate and compete and stick to our systems for 60 minutes.”
Prior to this evening’s game all eyes will be on Calgary, as the Western Hockey League will announce this afternoon the host site for the 2020 Memorial Cup at the conclusion of the WHL Board of Governors meeting. The WHL’s Memorial Cup announcement is expected at 3:40 p.m. MT (2:40 p.m. PT).
“I’d be lying if I said we’re all not going to be paying attention. It would be very exciting for our team and the city to be chosen as Memorial Cup hosts,” said Mallette.
Wednesday will be the first of nine meetings between the Rockets and Giants this season. They met eight times last season, with the Rockets going 5-2-1-0.
Kelowna (1-4-0-0) currently sits fifth in B.C. Division standings with two points, six back of the first-place Victoria Royals (4-0-0-0). In second is Vancouver (3-1-0-0) with six points, with Prince George (2-2-0-1) in fourth with five points. Kamloops (2-2-0-0) is fourth with four points.
Puck drop on Wednesday is at 7:05 p.m. at Prospera Place.
After Wednesday’s game, Kelowna will play two games this weekend. The Rockets will host Victoria at 7:05 p.m. on Friday evening, then will visit Kent, Wash., to play the Seattle Thunderbirds on Saturday at 6:05 p.m. On Wednesday, October 10th, Seattle will visit Kelowna at 7:05 p.m.
Last week, the Rockets made a trade with Victoria, as the Rockets acquired over-age forward Lane Zablocki, 19, in exchange for a fourth-round pick in the WHL’s bantam draft in 2021 and a seventh-round pick in 2019.
From Wetaskiwin, Alta., Zablocki turns 20 on December 27th and is listed at six feet and 190 pounds. In 201 WHL games, Zablocki has 58 goals and 64 assists for 122 points. He was drafted by the Detroit Red Wings, 79th overall in 2017. Kelowna will be his fifth WHL team, having also played for Regina, Red Deer, Lethbridge and Victoria.
“We feel that our lack of production from our over-age side of things has somewhat forced our hand,” said Rockets president and general manager Bruce Hamilton. “We have an open spot at the moment, and we feel that this player brings a lot. He will probably be sitting for another two weeks as he rehabs an injury. He is just arriving back home to Regina from Detroit’s training camp, where he was all summer and he will report to us on Monday. We are really excited, we think he is exactly what we need right now both in the dressing room and on the ice.”
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