Having reeled in the Prince George Cougars over the course of the last month, a B.C. Division pennant is now in clear view for the Kelowna Rockets.
With just a week left in the WHL regular season and holding one game in hand, the Rockets (41-21-5-0) are a mere two points back of the Cougars (42-21-3-2) for top spot.
With four of their last five games at Prospera Place乌鸦传媒攁nd three remaining against the last-place Vancouver Giants乌鸦传媒攖he Rockets couldn乌鸦传媒檛 ask for a much more favourable scenario.
Prince George, on the other hand, will visit Tri City and Spokane, before closing out the season with a home-and-home set against the rival Kamloops Blazers.
While the prospects of a division title loom large and excitement builds toward the start of the postseason, head coach Jason Smith said it乌鸦传媒檚 imperative the Rockets remain focused on their day-to-day tasks.
乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檙e excited that the playoffs are coming but we still have games to play and they乌鸦传媒檙e all important games,乌鸦传媒� said Smith. 乌鸦传媒淲e have a real good opportunity to put a good stretch together here between now and the end of the year and that乌鸦传媒檚 what we want to do乌鸦传媒e want to have energy and excitement and compete every night.乌鸦传媒�
The Rockets look to have hit their stride at just the right time of year, with seven wins in their last eight games and 10 in the last 12.
Kelowna defenceman James Hilsendager says the Rockets乌鸦传媒� game is definitely trending in the right direction.
乌鸦传媒淎s a group we乌鸦传媒檝e come together the past three weeks or so, our systems are great and we乌鸦传媒檙e sticking to them,乌鸦传媒� said Hilsendager. 乌鸦传媒淭here乌鸦传媒檚 not a lot of individual play, we乌鸦传媒檙e playing as a group.
乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檙e playing really well right now, we乌鸦传媒檝e just gotta keep it going into the playoffs.乌鸦传媒�
And Hilsendager乌鸦传媒檚 assessment is backed up by his head coach. 乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檙e trying to fine-tune our game, make sure we乌鸦传媒檙e ready to play come playoffs,乌鸦传媒� said Jason Smith. 乌鸦传媒淲e乌鸦传媒檙e starting to play more complete games, we乌鸦传媒檙e playing with structure and detail, and that乌鸦传媒檚 allowing us to have success.乌鸦传媒�
The Rockets host the Vancouver Giants Friday night, followed by the Victoria Royals on Saturday. Face-off both nights is 7:05 p.m.
