TODAY’S GAMEDAY PREVIEW: Wednesday, December 12th

Feature Game of the Night: Kelowna Rockets @ Lethbridge Hurricanes 7:00 MST

Today’s feature game is between the Kelowna Rockets (15-15-2-0) and the Lethbridge Hurricanes (15-9-4-2). After playing three games against one another last year, all won by Kelowna, Wednesday’s contest is their only matchup this year.

The Rockets have turned their season around under new head coach, and former Colorado Avalanche and Columbus Blue Jackets captain, Adam Foote. The Rockets have not lost in regulation in five games and are coming off a victory in Kootenay where their power play went 3-for-4.

Lethbridge meanwhile is 6-2-2-0 in their last ten games with their most recent game being a wild 8-7 defeat to the Tri-City Americans.

2019 NHL top prospect Dylan Cozens had four points in the defeat and is up to 41 for the season. The 6’3” 185 pound winger is just five points shy of 100 in his young WHL career.

Fellow 2019 “A” rated prospect Nolan Foote is also trending the right direction as he has 12 points in his last 10 games after a relatively quiet start to the season.

Our writer, John Easthope (@vintagejohnny84) will be in attendance, so follow him for updates and a recap from the game.

Quick Facts:

  • Kelowna goalie James Porter’s five most recent games have been some of his best. The 18-year-old netminder has stopped 141 of 151 shots he’s faced.
  • Rockets’ rookie, import defenseman Lassi Thomson leads the Rockets defense with 21 points in 32 games.
  • Hurricanes’ captain Jordy Bellerive has scored twice and assisted on three goals in his five games. With 96 career goals, he is only four away from the century mark.
  • Jake Elmer is coming off a banner night in Tri-City. The overage forward scored a hat trick to go along with two assists.

Leading Scorers:

Nick Henry – LET – 16 of his 29 assists have come via the power play.

Kyle Topping – KEL – Unlike Henry, the majority of his assists (15 of 24) have come away from the man advantage.

Possible Starting Goaltenders:

James Porter – KEL – (3.22 GAA and 0.903 save percentage) – made 28 saves last night against the Ice.

Reece Klassen – LET – (3.65 GAA and 0.889 save percentage) – played over 1,200 minutes so far this season.

Other Games Around the League:

Edmonton Oil Kings (16-12-3-2) @ Prince Albert Raiders (28-2-0-1)

Regina Pats (8-22-0-1) @ Swift Current Broncos (5-23-1-1)

  • Both teams have recently traded away some of their assets in an effort to recover some assets lost at last year’s trade deadline. Alec Zawatsky leads the Broncos with nine goals this season.

Kamloops Blazers (12-13-2-1) @ Medicine Hat Tigers (15-14-1-2)

  • Kamloops will be without Jermaine Loewen tonight. He is currently serving the last of his 3 game supplemental discipline suspension from his hit on December 8th.

Everett Silvertips (25-7-1-0) @ Spokane Chiefs (16-11-2-2)

  • All U.S. Division matchup between the Western Conference leading Everett Silvertips and 3rd in the division Spokane Chiefs. Silvertips goalie Dustin Wolf recently was named CHL goalie of the week. Chiefs will be without Ty Smith, Filip Kral, and Jaret Anderson-Dolan (who has only played two WHL games this season) who are all away at World Juniors.

Portland Winterhawks (18-11-0-2) @ Victoria Royals (14-12-1-0)

  • The home team has won the first three matchups this season, most recently last night when Victoria won 7-4 behind a Tarun Fizer hat trick. Portland is 0-5 this season when Cody Glass has not been in the lineup. Glass is representing Team Canada at World Juniors.