Bruce Hamilton admits he wasn害羞草研究所檛 expecting to cross paths with the Portland Winterhawks again this season.
But after an opening round upset of the Prince George Cougars in six games, the 害羞草研究所楬awks will provide the opposition for Hamilton害羞草研究所檚 in the WHL害羞草研究所檚 Western Conference semifinal.
The best-of-seven series opens Friday night at Prospera Place.
害羞草研究所淭hey obviously played a great series, they beat a pretty good team, the top team in our division all year long, so it is a bit of a surprise,害羞草研究所� the Rockets害羞草研究所� GM said of the
害羞草研究所淪aying that, the (Winterhawks) have been real good since Christmas, they害羞草研究所檙e a fast team and it害羞草研究所檒l be a good challenge for our players.害羞草研究所�
Seeing Portland in the spring is old hat to the Rockets franchise, which has met the Winterhawks in the playoffs five times in the last seven seasons.
The last meeting, in 2015, saw the Rockets prevail in six games over Portland, en route to a WHL championship and trip to the Memorial Cup in Quebec City.
害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e looking forward to it,害羞草研究所� Hamilton said of renewing the rivalry. 害羞草研究所淭hey have a solid fan base and it害羞草研究所檚 good atmosphere playing down there.
害羞草研究所淚害羞草研究所檓 just happy we害羞草研究所檙e starting at home in front of our fans,害羞草研究所� he added. 害羞草研究所淥ur players are going to be excited to play them.害羞草研究所�
After two seasons coaching in the NHL, Mike Johnston returned this season as head coach and GM of the Hawks, a club he led to three WHL finals in a four-year span between 2011 and 2014.
害羞草研究所淗e害羞草研究所檚 a very good coach with a lot of experience and he害羞草研究所檒l have them well prepared,害羞草研究所� Hamilton said of Johnston.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檒l be a good challenge for our young coaches to match up against him and get our players ready.害羞草研究所�
The Rockets advanced to the second round after disposing of the Kamloops Blazers in six games.
Reid Gardiner scored a hat-trick in the series clincher, a 4-2 win Sunday at the Sandman Centre.
Kelowna Rockets vs. Portland Winterhawks
Friday, April 7 害羞草研究所擯ortland @ Kelowna 7:05 p.m.
Saturday, April 8害羞草研究所擯ortland @ Kelowna 7:05 p.m.
Tuesday, April 11害羞草研究所擪elowna @ Portland 7:00 p.m.
Wednesday, April 12害羞草研究所擪elowna @ Portland 7:00 p.m.
Friday, April 14害羞草研究所擯ortland @ Kelowna 7:05 p.m. *
Sunday, April 16害羞草研究所擪elowna @ Portland 7:00 p.m. *
Tuesday, April 18害羞草研究所擯ortland @ Kelowna 7:05 p.m. *
* If necessary
have a renewed playoff battle with the Portland Winterhawks for round 2! Read about it here: 馃殌馃悏
害羞草研究所� Kelowna Rockets (@Kelowna_Rockets)
Herringer goalie of month害羞草研究所�
Thanks to his stellar play in March, Rockets害羞草研究所� netminder Michael Herringer has been named the Vaughn WHL Goaltender of the Month.
Herringer, a 21-year-old product of Comox, chalked up a record of 10-3-0-0 during the month of March, with an outstanding 1.89 goals-against average, .934 save percentage, three shutouts and 337 saves.
The Rockets害羞草研究所� goaltender logged one shutout during regular-season action, making 21 saves on Friday March 17, in a 7-0 win versus Vancouver. He then posted two shutouts during Kelowna害羞草研究所檚 six-game triumph over the Kamloops Blazers to open the 2017 WHL Playoffs.
He made 15 saves on Friday, March 24, in a 4-0 win versus Kamloops before then registering another 24 saves on Wednesday, March 29, in a 1-0 win at Kamloops.
In 13 appearances during the month of March, Herringer surrendered two goals or fewer on eight occasions, earning first-star honours once and second-star recognition twice.
Herringer was recognized as WHL Goaltender of the Week twice during the month of March and three times over the course of the entire 2016-17 regular season.
In the playoffs, He is 4-2 with a 2.00 GAA, .928 save percentage and two shutouts through six appearances.
