If the games were played strictly on paper, the and couldn91裸聊视频檛 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.

91裸聊视频淚 think it91裸聊视频檚 going to be a real good matchup,91裸聊视频� Hamilton said. 91裸聊视频淭hey91裸聊视频檙e a team similar to us, that had a lot of injuries through the regular season and they91裸聊视频檙e getting healthy now, too.

91裸聊视频淚 think you91裸聊视频檝e got the makings of a long series,91裸聊视频� he added. 91裸聊视频淭here91裸聊视频檒l probably be a physical side to it, too, I think we91裸聊视频檙e going to have to play that way. It91裸聊视频檚 the playoffs, so as usual it will likely come down to who defends the best and whose goaltender has the best series.91裸聊视频�

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 Americans91裸聊视频� 20-year-old Patrick Dea will head into the series as their team91裸聊视频檚 No. 1 netminders.

91裸聊视频淚t91裸聊视频檚 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,91裸聊视频� said Cal Foote, the Rockets team MVP. 91裸聊视频淏oth teams played pretty well towards the end of the season, so it should be fast, exciting hockey.91裸聊视频�

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.

91裸聊视频淲e91裸聊视频檙e going to have to play a team like this at some point, so it91裸聊视频檚 nice to play them right away and have home ice advantage,91裸聊视频� said Dube, the WHL91裸聊视频檚 player of the week with seven points in two games.

91裸聊视频淚 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 we91裸聊视频檝e got the team to do it.

91裸聊视频淪o let91裸聊视频檚 hope we stay healthy, that91裸聊视频檚 the thing about playoffs,91裸聊视频� Dube added, 91裸聊视频測ou never know what will happen, but I think we91裸聊视频檙e a pretty resilient team and we can do it.91裸聊视频�

Series schedule:

Game 1: Tri-City @ Kelowna91裸聊视频擳hursday, March 22 7:05

Game 2: Tri-City @ Kelowna91裸聊视频擲aturday, March 24 7:05

Game 3: Kelowna @ Tri-City91裸聊视频擶ednesday, March 28 7:05

Game 4: Kelowna @ Tri-City91裸聊视频擳hursday, March 29 7:05

Game 5 *: Tri-City @ Kelowna91裸聊视频擲aturday, March 31 7:05

Game 6 *: Kelowna @ Tri-City91裸聊视频擲unday, April 1 5:05

Game 7 *: Tri-City @ Kelowna91裸聊视频擳uesday, April 3 7:05

* If necessary

Rockets Awards

Not an overly vocal captain, Cal Foote led more by example for the Kelowna Rockets91裸聊视频� during the 2017-18 WHL season.

On Sunday, the 19-year-old blueliner91裸聊视频檚 impact on the Western Hockey League club couldn91裸聊视频檛 have been more clear during the Rockets91裸聊视频� annual awards ceremony at the Kelowna Community Theatre.

Following on the heels of a stellar regular season, Foote was named both the Rockets91裸聊视频� MVP and, for the second straight year, the club91裸聊视频檚 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.

91裸聊视频淚 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,91裸聊视频� said Foote, who had 19 goals and 70 points this season. 91裸聊视频淭hey all had a great seasons, credit to them they played well this year.91裸聊视频�

Forward Dillon Dube won the first ever President91裸聊视频檚 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 Canada91裸聊视频檚 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 Rockets91裸聊视频� most improved player.

Other award winners:

91裸聊视频� Top scorer91裸聊视频擪ole Lind (95 points).

91裸聊视频� Rookie of the Year91裸聊视频擪aedan Korczak

91裸聊视频� Top defensive forward91裸聊视频擟onner Bruggen-Cate

91裸聊视频� Most sportsmanlike91裸聊视频擫eif Mattson

91裸聊视频� Scholastic Award91裸聊视频擶il Kushniryk

To report a typo, email: edit@kelownacapnews.com.

whenderson@kelownacapnews.com
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