If the games were played strictly on paper, the and couldn害羞草研究所檛 be any better matched heading into the Western Hockey League playoffs.

The clubs split four regular season meetings right down the middle, each winning twice, with two of the games ending in overtime. On the scoreboard, the Rockets and Americans were also dead even with 13 goals apiece.

Throw in a season where both teams battled multiple key injuries and still finished third and fifth, respectively, in the Western Conference, and Rockets GM Bruce Hamilton expects a long, hard-fought series.

害羞草研究所淚 think it害羞草研究所檚 going to be a real good matchup,害羞草研究所� Hamilton said. 害羞草研究所淭hey害羞草研究所檙e a team similar to us, that had a lot of injuries through the regular season and they害羞草研究所檙e getting healthy now, too.

害羞草研究所淚 think you害羞草研究所檝e got the makings of a long series,害羞草研究所� he added. 害羞草研究所淭here害羞草研究所檒l probably be a physical side to it, too, I think we害羞草研究所檙e going to have to play that way. It害羞草研究所檚 the playoffs, so as usual it will likely come down to who defends the best and whose goaltender has the best series.害羞草研究所�

The Ams (38-25-8-1) are led into the series by high-scoring forwards Michael Rasmussen (first-round draft, Detroit), Morgan Geekie (84 points) and Jordan Topping, who are supported by an active and mobile defence, featuring Dylan Coghlan, Juuso V盲lim盲ki and Canadian junior team defenceman Jake Bean, who Tri-City acquired prior to the trade deadline from the Calgary Hitmen.

The Rockets (43-22-5-2) counter with their share end of high-end talent, including Kole Lind (95 points), Dillon Dube, Carsen Twarynski (45 goals), and blueline anchor, captain Cal Foote (70 points).

Rockets rookie James Porter and Americans害羞草研究所� 20-year-old Patrick Dea will head into the series as their team害羞草研究所檚 No. 1 netminders.

害羞草研究所淚t害羞草研究所檚 going to be a fun series, I know the (Americans) play a fast game, they strike quick and they have a few weapons we need to watch out for,害羞草研究所� said Cal Foote, the Rockets team MVP. 害羞草研究所淏oth teams played pretty well towards the end of the season, so it should be fast, exciting hockey.害羞草研究所�

Much like the Americans, who won six of seven down the stretch, the Rockets also closed out the regular season on a high, with five straight victories.

Forward Dillon Dube expects the Americans to present a formidable challenge for the Rockets, not unlike any other playoff team would in the Western Conference.

害羞草研究所淲e害羞草研究所檙e going to have to play a team like this at some point, so it害羞草研究所檚 nice to play them right away and have home ice advantage,害羞草研究所� said Dube, the WHL害羞草研究所檚 player of the week with seven points in two games.

害羞草研究所淚 think the split for the weekend, Thursday and Saturday games, is good to get the full rest and be 100 per cent for each game. Hopefully we get to where we want to be and we害羞草研究所檝e got the team to do it.

害羞草研究所淪o let害羞草研究所檚 hope we stay healthy, that害羞草研究所檚 the thing about playoffs,害羞草研究所� Dube added, 害羞草研究所測ou never know what will happen, but I think we害羞草研究所檙e a pretty resilient team and we can do it.害羞草研究所�

Series schedule:

Game 1: Tri-City @ Kelowna害羞草研究所擳hursday, March 22 7:05

Game 2: Tri-City @ Kelowna害羞草研究所擲aturday, March 24 7:05

Game 3: Kelowna @ Tri-City害羞草研究所擶ednesday, March 28 7:05

Game 4: Kelowna @ Tri-City害羞草研究所擳hursday, March 29 7:05

Game 5 *: Tri-City @ Kelowna害羞草研究所擲aturday, March 31 7:05

Game 6 *: Kelowna @ Tri-City害羞草研究所擲unday, April 1 5:05

Game 7 *: Tri-City @ Kelowna害羞草研究所擳uesday, April 3 7:05

* If necessary

Rockets Awards

Not an overly vocal captain, Cal Foote led more by example for the Kelowna Rockets害羞草研究所� during the 2017-18 WHL season.

On Sunday, the 19-year-old blueliner害羞草研究所檚 impact on the Western Hockey League club couldn害羞草研究所檛 have been more clear during the Rockets害羞草研究所� annual awards ceremony at the Kelowna Community Theatre.

Following on the heels of a stellar regular season, Foote was named both the Rockets害羞草研究所� MVP and, for the second straight year, the club害羞草研究所檚 top defenceman.

Humbled by the MVP honour, Foote said the recognition could have just as easily gone to Dillon Dube, Kole Lind or Carsen Twarynski.

害羞草研究所淚 was surprised when I got it because we have so many great players, we have three other guys that are in the running for it,害羞草研究所� said Foote, who had 19 goals and 70 points this season. 害羞草研究所淭hey all had a great seasons, credit to them they played well this year.害羞草研究所�

Forward Dillon Dube won the first ever President害羞草研究所檚 Award, a new honour designed to recognize outstanding and significant accomplishments by a member of the team.

Dube was the first Kelowna Rockets player ever to earn a spot on the Canada害羞草研究所檚 world junior team roster in back-to-back seasons. The Cochrane, AB native served as team captain and helped Canada win gold at the 2018 championship in Buffalo.

Defenceman Gordie Ballhorn left the ceremony with three awards in his possession. The 20-year-old from Wetaskiwin, AB won the Unsung Hero and Plus-Minus Awards, and shared the Hamilton Humanitarian Award with fellow over-ager, Carsen Twarynski.

Twarynski, who led Kelowna with 45 goals this season, was also named the Rockets害羞草研究所� most improved player.

Other award winners:

害羞草研究所� Top scorer害羞草研究所擪ole Lind (95 points).

害羞草研究所� Rookie of the Year害羞草研究所擪aedan Korczak

害羞草研究所� Top defensive forward害羞草研究所擟onner Bruggen-Cate

害羞草研究所� Most sportsmanlike害羞草研究所擫eif Mattson

害羞草研究所� Scholastic Award害羞草研究所擶il Kushniryk

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