Just three weeks into the season, it害羞草研究所檚 far from a make-or-break situation for the .

Still, with four games in a five-night span害羞草研究所攖he last three south of the border害羞草研究所擩ason Smith害羞草研究所檚 club is likely to learn plenty about its grit, resolve and resiliency.

After a home date Friday with the Calgary Hitmen, the Rockets will hop the team bus for a nine-hour trip to Portland where they害羞草研究所檒l go back-to-back with the Winterhawks on Saturday and Sunday.

Then on Tuesday, Kelowna (4-1-0-1) closes out its U.S. tour in Kennewick, Wash against Tri-City.

While the stretch ahead might look somewhat daunting, team captain Cal Foote expects the task at hand to bring out the best in his teammates.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 a huge challenge for our team,害羞草研究所� said Foote. 害羞草研究所淚 think it害羞草研究所檚 important for us to just take each game as it comes, just focus on Friday night right now, then we can prepare to go forward after that.

害羞草研究所淔our games in five nights is a big challenge but I think we害羞草研究所檙e up for it.害羞草研究所�

In the Winterhawks, the Rockets will see an opponent that many WHL observers expect to challenge for the Western Conference title.

Portland is off to 6-1-0 start and has outscored its opposition 39-17.

害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檙e a highly-touted team, everybody believes they害羞草研究所檙e going to be a heavy squad, so we害羞草研究所檙e going to have to go in there with our 害羞草研究所楢害羞草研究所� game, play the best road games that we can,害羞草研究所� Foote said of the games in Portland.

Foote and the Rockets hope to have some gas left in their tank Tuesday night when they visit the Tri-City Americans, another preseason pick as a contender for the WHL title.

害羞草研究所淗ockey players, you live for adversity, you live for tests like this,害羞草研究所� Foote said. 害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 excited and the guys in the locker room are excited, too.害羞草研究所�

Face off Friday at Prospera Place between the Rockets and Hitmen is 7:05 p.m.

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