couldn害羞草研究所檛 have asked for a much better conclusion to 2017.
Five straight wins害羞草研究所攁nd 12 consecutive victories on home ice害羞草研究所攈ave Jason Smith害羞草研究所檚 club heading into the new year atop the Western Hockey League害羞草研究所檚 B.C. Division.
On Wednesday night, in their first action of 2018, the Rockets (23-11-2-1) will look to extend both streaks when the Tri-City Americans pay a visit to Prospera Place. Face off is 7:05 p.m.
While Kelowna is among the league害羞草研究所檚 hottest teams, the Americans aren害羞草研究所檛 far behind with five victories and a pair of overtime losses in their last seven games.
害羞草研究所淲e try not to think about the streak too much, we just need to go out there and play our game,害羞草研究所� said Rockets assistant captain Gordie Ballhorn. 害羞草研究所淭ri-City is a good team, we害羞草研究所檝e had a couple of good battles with them this season, so we害羞草研究所檒l need to be ready to play and bring our best game against them.害羞草研究所�
What害羞草研究所檚 most encouraging for the Rockets is the success they害羞草研究所檝e had without the services of Dillon Dube and captain Cal Foote, both of whom are playing with Team Canada at the IIHF World Junior Championship in Buffalo.
害羞草研究所淲e wanted to get as many wins as we could with Dillon and Cal away, and the guys have really stepped up,害羞草研究所� Ballhorn said. 害羞草研究所淪ome guys have had their roles expanded and have really excelled and contributed. It害羞草研究所檚 made us better as a team.害羞草研究所�
In addition to some timely scoring in recent games, the Rockets have been getting exceptional goaltending from their two rookie netminders.
In three games since Christmas, and have combined for three wins, a shutout, a 0.95 goals against average and a save percentage of .982.
害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 been huge for us,害羞草研究所� Ballhorn said of the goaltending of Porter and Basran. 害羞草研究所淭hey give us a chance to win pretty much every night. They害羞草研究所檙e young guys, they害羞草研究所檙e learning, and they害羞草研究所檙e doing a great job for us.害羞草研究所�
Porter, the WHL害羞草研究所檚 goaltender of the week, earned his second shutout of the season and his career in a 3-0 win Dec. 29 in Kamloops.
Rockets forward Kole Lind has been red hot since being returned from Canada害羞草研究所檚 junior team evaluation camp last month.
In his last seven games, the 19-year-old Vancouver Canucks害羞草研究所� draft choice has eight goals害羞草研究所攊ncluding two hat tricks害羞草研究所攁nd 14 points.
The Rockets will be home again Friday to host the Seattle Thunderbirds, then will travel to Calgary to face the Hitmen on Sunday afternoon.
Porter goaltender of the week
With a pair of victories and just one goal allowed, James Porter has been named the WHL害羞草研究所檚 goaltender of the week.
In two starts, the 5-foot-11, 157-pound product of Bonners Ferry, Idaho posted a 0.48 goals against average, a .987 save ratio and one shutout
Last Wednesday, Porter stopped 46 of 47 shots in a 2-1 shootout win over the visiting Kamloops Blazers. Two nights later, he stopped all 28 shots in Kamloops for his second career shutout in a 3-0 win.
Porter, 17, is 15-5-2-0 this season with a 3.22 goals against average and .904 save percentage.
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