Talk about knowing your opponent.

Since the beginning of the 2015-16 Western Hockey League season, the Kelowna Rockets and Kamloops Blazers have gone head to head 27 times.

And the longtime B.C. Division rivals aren乌鸦传媒檛 done yet.

The clubs will meet in the opening round of the postseason for the second straight year when the teams face off Friday night at Prospera Place.

Last spring乌鸦传媒檚 playoff tilt went the distance, with scoring the winner in overtime in Game 7.

held the edge during the 2016-17 regular campaign, taking six of 10 games. But the Rockets closed out the season series with a convincing 8-2 victory Feb. 24 in Kamloops.

Rockets乌鸦传媒� defenceman Lucas Johansen said the stage has been set for an intense and exciting series between two hardened rivals.

乌鸦传媒淭hey乌鸦传媒檙e a good team, they乌鸦传媒檝e shown us they can beat us, so it乌鸦传媒檚 going to be a fun week of preparing to play them,乌鸦传媒� Johansen said of the Blazers. 乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 going to be a war out there.

乌鸦传媒淲e know the (Blazers) are going to play hard for each other and try and answer back from last year,乌鸦传媒� he added. 乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檙e going to have to match that and better it, and try and win this in less than seven games this time.乌鸦传媒�

Few are more familiar with the storied Kelowna-Kamloops rivalry than Don Hay, now in his 17th season as head coach of the Blazers.

While facing the Rockets at playoff time is rarely an easy task, Hay said his club is excited to take on the challenge.

乌鸦传媒淚t乌鸦传媒檚 a great rivalry between two teams and two cities,乌鸦传媒� said Hay, whose Blazers finished five points back of the Rockers for second in the B.C. Division. 乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檝e had some really good games over the last couple of seasons, I think both teams learned and grew from the experience of that seven-game series last year.

乌鸦传媒淚 think both teams had good games against each during the season series, so both can say we have confidence coming in. I think it乌鸦传媒檒l be a great series.乌鸦传媒�

With nine wins in their last 10 games乌鸦传媒攁nd 18 of the last 22乌鸦传媒攖he Rockets head into the postseason playing their best hockey of 2016-17.

Healthy and on a roll, club president and GM Bruce Hamilton likes how the playoffs are setting up for first-year head coach Jason Smith and his Rockets.

乌鸦传媒淚乌鸦传媒檓 thrilled for our team, we had a wonderful finish,乌鸦传媒� Hamilton said. 乌鸦传媒淔rom six weeks ago until now we乌鸦传媒檝e been one of the best teams in the league.

乌鸦传媒淚 think our guys deserve a lot of credit for gutting it out and sticking with the plan. We got healthy at the right time and now going into the playoffs we乌鸦传媒檒l have everybody healthy and ready to play.乌鸦传媒�

Still, Hamilton knows the Blazers will come in well-prepared by their bench boss.

乌鸦传媒�(Don乌鸦传媒檚) been coaching in the league for more than 20 years, and he乌鸦传媒檚 going to bring in a team that乌鸦传媒檚 going to play very disciplined, very hard, and they乌鸦传媒檒l be well-coached and they乌鸦传媒檒l have good patience in their game too,乌鸦传媒� Hamilton said.

乌鸦传媒淚 think it乌鸦传媒檒l be a great series, it乌鸦传媒檒l be hard fought, old-time hockey, with lots of body contact.

乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檙e going to play tough and that乌鸦传媒檚 how it乌鸦传媒檚 going to be.乌鸦传媒�

Kelowna Rockets vs Kamloops Blazers

Friday, March 24 @ Kelowna 7:05 p.m

Saturday, March 25 @ Kelowna 7:05 p.m.

Tuesday, March 28 @ Kamloops 7:00 p.m.

Wednesday, March 29 @ Kamloops. 7:00 p.m.

Friday, March 31 @ Kelowna 7:05 p.m. *

Sunday, April 2 @ Kamloops 7:00 p.m. *

Tuesday, April 4 @ Kelowna 7:05 p.m. *

* If necessary

Fan bus乌鸦传媒�

A bus for Kelowna Rockets fans has been organized for Games 3 and 4 of the series in Kamloops, Tuesday, March 29 and Wednesday, March 29.

The cost is $50 per game and includes the bus trip and game ticket. The bus will leave Prospera Place at 4 p.m. sharp.

For more information, contact Chantelle LaBrie at labrie_chantelle10@hotmail.com