Talk about knowing your opponent.
Since the beginning of the 2015-16 Western Hockey League season, the Kelowna Rockets and Kamloops Blazers have gone head to head 27 times.
And the longtime B.C. Division rivals aren害羞草研究所檛 done yet.
The clubs will meet in the opening round of the postseason for the second straight year when the teams face off Friday night at Prospera Place.
Last spring害羞草研究所檚 playoff tilt went the distance, with scoring the winner in overtime in Game 7.
held the edge during the 2016-17 regular campaign, taking six of 10 games. But the Rockets closed out the season series with a convincing 8-2 victory Feb. 24 in Kamloops.
Rockets害羞草研究所� defenceman Lucas Johansen said the stage has been set for an intense and exciting series between two hardened rivals.
害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檙e a good team, they害羞草研究所檝e shown us they can beat us, so it害羞草研究所檚 going to be a fun week of preparing to play them,害羞草研究所� Johansen said of the Blazers. 害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 going to be a war out there.
害羞草研究所淲e know the (Blazers) are going to play hard for each other and try and answer back from last year,害羞草研究所� he added. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e going to have to match that and better it, and try and win this in less than seven games this time.害羞草研究所�
Few are more familiar with the storied Kelowna-Kamloops rivalry than Don Hay, now in his 17th season as head coach of the Blazers.
While facing the Rockets at playoff time is rarely an easy task, Hay said his club is excited to take on the challenge.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a great rivalry between two teams and two cities,害羞草研究所� said Hay, whose Blazers finished five points back of the Rockers for second in the B.C. Division. 害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檝e had some really good games over the last couple of seasons, I think both teams learned and grew from the experience of that seven-game series last year.
害羞草研究所淚 think both teams had good games against each during the season series, so both can say we have confidence coming in. I think it害羞草研究所檒l be a great series.害羞草研究所�
With nine wins in their last 10 games害羞草研究所攁nd 18 of the last 22害羞草研究所攖he Rockets head into the postseason playing their best hockey of 2016-17.
Healthy and on a roll, club president and GM Bruce Hamilton likes how the playoffs are setting up for first-year head coach Jason Smith and his Rockets.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 thrilled for our team, we had a wonderful finish,害羞草研究所� Hamilton said. 害羞草研究所淔rom six weeks ago until now we害羞草研究所檝e been one of the best teams in the league.
害羞草研究所淚 think our guys deserve a lot of credit for gutting it out and sticking with the plan. We got healthy at the right time and now going into the playoffs we害羞草研究所檒l have everybody healthy and ready to play.害羞草研究所�
Still, Hamilton knows the Blazers will come in well-prepared by their bench boss.
害羞草研究所�(Don害羞草研究所檚) been coaching in the league for more than 20 years, and he害羞草研究所檚 going to bring in a team that害羞草研究所檚 going to play very disciplined, very hard, and they害羞草研究所檒l be well-coached and they害羞草研究所檒l have good patience in their game too,害羞草研究所� Hamilton said.
害羞草研究所淚 think it害羞草研究所檒l be a great series, it害羞草研究所檒l be hard fought, old-time hockey, with lots of body contact.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e going to play tough and that害羞草研究所檚 how it害羞草研究所檚 going to be.害羞草研究所�
Kelowna Rockets vs Kamloops Blazers
Friday, March 24 @ Kelowna 7:05 p.m
Saturday, March 25 @ Kelowna 7:05 p.m.
Tuesday, March 28 @ Kamloops 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, March 29 @ Kamloops. 7:00 p.m.
Friday, March 31 @ Kelowna 7:05 p.m. *
Sunday, April 2 @ Kamloops 7:00 p.m. *
Tuesday, April 4 @ Kelowna 7:05 p.m. *
* If necessary
Fan bus害羞草研究所�
A bus for Kelowna Rockets fans has been organized for Games 3 and 4 of the series in Kamloops, Tuesday, March 29 and Wednesday, March 29.
The cost is $50 per game and includes the bus trip and game ticket. The bus will leave Prospera Place at 4 p.m. sharp.
For more information, contact Chantelle LaBrie at labrie_chantelle10@hotmail.com
